Grove City Planning Commission to Review Preliminary Plans for BJ's Wholesale Club
A preliminary development plan outlines a 104,470-square-foot membership warehouse, an 18-pump gas station and outparcel retail across 18 acres along Stringtown Road.
The Grove City Planning Commission is scheduled to review a preliminary development plan on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, for a new 104,470-square-foot BJ's Wholesale Club warehouse and an associated 18-pump fuel station scheduled by city agenda. The application, filed on Sept. 2, 2026, by attorneys Don Plank and Rebecca Mott of Plank Law Firm on behalf of the wholesale chain, proposes transforming an 18-acre site at 1209, 1213, and 1255 Stringtown Road specified in filing records.
The public meeting is set for 1:30 p.m. at Grove City Hall, 4035 Broadway, with city planner Terry Barr assigned to the project according to the meeting agenda.
Warehouse and Site Layout
The proposed development layout features a 104,470-square-foot membership warehouse club supported by 422 parking spaces and an 18-pump members-only gas station with a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, according to local reporting by Hoodline.
The 18-acre site sits between Buckeye Parkway and Jackson Pike, which is also designated as State Route 104 reported by Hoodline. In addition to the main wholesale club, the layout reserves roughly 1.2 acres near Stringtown Road for a potential retail or restaurant building that could feature a drive-thru or pickup window detailed in project plans. The project narrative submitted to the city does not name an end tenant for the outparcel, and the applicant has not provided an estimated construction schedule or store opening date noted in initial filings.
Annexation and Rezoning Requirements
Before construction can begin, the site must clear municipal annexation and zoning approvals. The 18-acre property is currently divided between industrial zoning inside Grove City corporation limits and suburban residential zoning in unincorporated Jackson Township reported in development records.
To unify the parcels, the applicant is seeking rezoning to Planned Unit Development-Commercial (PUD-C) detailed by Hoodline. Grove City Council took an initial formal step on Sept. 21, 2026, by approving Resolution CR-36-26, establishing the municipal service statement required under Ohio Revised Code §709.023 for roughly 11.9 acres at 1209–1213 Stringtown Road upon annexation from Jackson Township recorded in council proceedings.
Grove City planning staff explained during the council meeting that the annexation and rezoning represent the first phase of a multi-step municipal review noted in meeting records. Planning staff said the combined area could support a wholesale user such as BJ's pending traffic study findings and subsequent PUD rezoning and final development plan approvals from City Council stated during municipal review.
Traffic Studies and Site Access
Traffic flow along the commercial corridor remains a central component of the review. The preliminary site plan proposes up to three access points: a full-service intersection and a right-in, right-out curb cut along Stringtown Road, as well as a right-in, right-out entrance along Jackson Pike outlined in site filings.
The filing also incorporates pedestrian and bicycle path connections along both thoroughfares reported by Hoodline. A formal traffic study will evaluate whether dedicated turn lanes are necessary and analyze potential congestion impacts at nearby intersections, specifically Stringtown Road at Jackson Pike and Jackson Pike at White Road detailed in application reviews. Grove City officials announced that detailed engineering plans and traffic study reports will be published on the city website as they are completed noted by municipal staff.
Regional Logistics and Retail Expansion
If approved by Grove City officials, the location would mark BJ's Wholesale Club's ninth store in Ohio and its third in the Central Ohio region reported by Hoodline. The Marlborough, Massachusetts-based bulk retailer returned to the Columbus metropolitan area after a 20-year hiatus, opening locations in the New Albany area at Hamilton Quarter in 2022 and in Lewis Center in 2023 chronicled by Hoodline.
The proposed retail expansion is linked directly to a regional logistics investment in adjacent Pickaway County. BJ's is constructing a more than 500,000-square-foot automated distribution center in Commercial Point, which is scheduled to open in early 2027 reported in state and regional filings. JobsOhio announced that the Commercial Point logistics facility, located across a 125-acre campus managed by VanTrust Real Estate, will create 250 new jobs and utilize automated storage and robotics engineered by Swisslog to supply groceries and merchandise across Midwest stores detailed in economic development announcements.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Planning Commission Meeting · agenda
Supporting evidence (3)
The Grove City Planning Commission is scheduled to review a preliminary development plan on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, for a new 104,470-square-foot BJ's Wholesale Club warehouse and an associated 18-pump fuel station scheduled by city agenda.
Read supporting passage
Proposal: This application is a preliminary development plan for the development of a new 104,470 square foot BJ's Wholesale Club, associated 18-pump gas station and site improvements on an 18-acre site at 1209-1213 Stringtown Road. Representative: Don Plank and Rebecca Mott, Plank Law Firm LPA.
The application, filed on Sept. 2, 2026, by attorneys Don Plank and Rebecca Mott of Plank Law Firm on behalf of the wholesale chain, proposes transforming an 18-acre site at 1209, 1213, and 1255 Stringtown Road specified in filing records.
Read supporting passage
Proposal: This application is a preliminary development plan for the development of a new 104,470 square foot BJ's Wholesale Club, associated 18-pump gas station and site improvements on an 18-acre site at 1209-1213 Stringtown Road. Representative: Don Plank and Rebecca Mott, Plank Law Firm LPA.
The public meeting is set for 1:30 p.m. at Grove City Hall, 4035 Broadway, with city planner Terry Barr assigned to the project according to the meeting agenda.
Read supporting passage
Proposal: This application is a preliminary development plan for the development of a new 104,470 square foot BJ's Wholesale Club, associated 18-pump gas station and site improvements on an 18-acre site at 1209-1213 Stringtown Road. Representative: Don Plank and Rebecca Mott, Plank Law Firm LPA.
Supporting evidence (13)
The proposed development layout features a 104,470-square-foot membership warehouse club supported by 422 parking spaces and an 18-pump members-only gas station with a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, according to local reporting by Hoodline.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
The 18-acre site sits between Buckeye Parkway and Jackson Pike, which is also designated as State Route 104 reported by Hoodline.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
In addition to the main wholesale club, the layout reserves roughly 1.2 acres near Stringtown Road for a potential retail or restaurant building that could feature a drive-thru or pickup window detailed in project plans.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
The project narrative submitted to the city does not name an end tenant for the outparcel, and the applicant has not provided an estimated construction schedule or store opening date noted in initial filings.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
The 18-acre property is currently divided between industrial zoning inside Grove City corporation limits and suburban residential zoning in unincorporated Jackson Township reported in development records.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
To unify the parcels, the applicant is seeking rezoning to Planned Unit Development-Commercial (PUD-C) detailed by Hoodline.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
The preliminary site plan proposes up to three access points: a full-service intersection and a right-in, right-out curb cut along Stringtown Road, as well as a right-in, right-out entrance along Jackson Pike outlined in site filings.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
The filing also incorporates pedestrian and bicycle path connections along both thoroughfares reported by Hoodline.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
A formal traffic study will evaluate whether dedicated turn lanes are necessary and analyze potential congestion impacts at nearby intersections, specifically Stringtown Road at Jackson Pike and Jackson Pike at White Road detailed in application reviews.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
If approved by Grove City officials, the location would mark BJ's Wholesale Club's ninth store in Ohio and its third in the Central Ohio region reported by Hoodline.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
The Marlborough, Massachusetts-based bulk retailer returned to the Columbus metropolitan area after a 20-year hiatus, opening locations in the New Albany area at Hamilton Quarter in 2022 and in Lewis Center in 2023 chronicled by Hoodline.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
BJ's is constructing a more than 500,000-square-foot automated distribution center in Commercial Point, which is scheduled to open in early 2027 reported in state and regional filings.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
JobsOhio announced that the Commercial Point logistics facility, located across a 125-acre campus managed by VanTrust Real Estate, will create 250 new jobs and utilize automated storage and robotics engineered by Swisslog to supply groceries and merchandise across Midwest stores detailed in economic development announcements.
Read supporting passage
The proposed layout includes 422 parking spaces, a members-only gas station with 18 fueling positions, a roughly 400-square-foot kiosk, and about 1.2 acres reserved near Stringtown Road for a possible retail or restaurant building that could include a drive-thru or pickup window.
Supporting evidence (4)
Grove City Council took an initial formal step on Sept. 21, 2026, by approving Resolution CR-36-26, establishing the municipal service statement required under Ohio Revised Code §709.023 for roughly 11.9 acres at 1209–1213 Stringtown Road upon annexation from Jackson Township recorded in council proceedings.
Read supporting passage
Council moved and approved resolution CR3626, the service‑statement requirement under Ohio Revised Code §709.023 for about 11.9 acres located at 1209–1213 Stringtown Road in Jackson Township upon annexation to Grove City.
Grove City planning staff explained during the council meeting that the annexation and rezoning represent the first phase of a multi-step municipal review noted in meeting records.
Read supporting passage
Council moved and approved resolution CR3626, the service‑statement requirement under Ohio Revised Code §709.023 for about 11.9 acres located at 1209–1213 Stringtown Road in Jackson Township upon annexation to Grove City.
Planning staff said the combined area could support a wholesale user such as BJ's pending traffic study findings and subsequent PUD rezoning and final development plan approvals from City Council stated during municipal review.
Read supporting passage
Council moved and approved resolution CR3626, the service‑statement requirement under Ohio Revised Code §709.023 for about 11.9 acres located at 1209–1213 Stringtown Road in Jackson Township upon annexation to Grove City.
Grove City officials announced that detailed engineering plans and traffic study reports will be published on the city website as they are completed noted by municipal staff.
Read supporting passage
Council moved and approved resolution CR3626, the service‑statement requirement under Ohio Revised Code §709.023 for about 11.9 acres located at 1209–1213 Stringtown Road in Jackson Township upon annexation to Grove City.