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The region's home builders are girding for the possibility of a legal fight over restrictions on home construction density in Pickerington.
Trustees of the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio this month directed the group's lawyers to research the organization's ability to sue the city over newly-enacted laws restricting housing construction to no more than two residences per acre.
"We're researching the law, especially the (federal) Fair Housing Act," said BIA Executive Director Tom Hart. "You can't build anything as multifamily on two units per acre, including empty-nester housing and senior housing."
The research is centering on who could bring a lawsuit developers, builders, land owners or the entire industry - and what legal arguments could be used, he said.
Hart said some builders that have yet to gain zoning or plat approvals may have already annexed and purchased development land after agreeing with the city on issues such as land use and density.
The legislation, approved over-whelmingly in a Nov. 5 referendum took effect Dec. 7. The restrictions are aimed at giving residents more influence over development, which Proponents of the law say has moved too fast in the city along the Franklin and Fairfield county line.
The retroactive nature...