New Albany City Council on Aug. 4, approved a resolution declaring the city's intent to acquire land and easements for Beech Road improvements, the latest infrastructure move to support the booming business park corridor in the city's northeast quadrant.

Resolution R-30-2026 authorizes the city manager to notify affected property owners that New Albany plans to appropriate parcels for roadway work along Beech Road NW, including intersection and access-point upgrades in Jersey Township, Licking County. The legislation states the improvements are needed to serve "existing development and the commercial development that is taking place in its General Employment and Technology Manufacturing Districts."

Those zoning districts encompass the New Albany International Business Park, a 12,000-acre campus that has attracted more than $47 billion in private investment since 1998 and generated roughly 26,000 jobs, according to the city's economic development page. Tax revenue from the business park funds approximately 80 percent of New Albany's general fund budget. The park hosts dozens of data centers operated by Google, Meta, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, with 28 more facilities under construction or in planning.

The stakes are real.

Three property owners received notice of the city's appropriation intent: Maple Manor Properties, LLC; Carol J. Stevens, sole trustee of the Daniel J. Stevens and Carol J. Stevens Trust; and Gary L. and Sharon E. Franks, trustees of the Franks Family Trust. The parcels range from a 0.024-acre temporary easement to a 0.476-acre fee-simple right-of-way acquisition.

Survey work for the easements was completed in February and April by Joshua M. Kleemeyer of Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton & Tilton, Inc.

40-lot subdivision plat renewed

At the same meeting, council renewed approval of the final plat for New Albany Country Club Section 30, a 40-lot single-family subdivision on roughly 30.1 acres north and west of Lambton Park Road and south of Brandon Road.

The New Albany Company, LLC, the master developer behind both the business park and the Country Club Living residential areas, requested the renewal through attorney Aaron L. Underhill. The plat had previously been recommended for approval by the New Albany Planning Commission at a June 16, 2025, public meeting, but the original council approval lapsed and required re-authorization.

The subdivision will include about 1.39 acres of parkland and open space to be donated to the city. The city engineer certified the plat meets all stormwater management and design requirements.

Mayor Sloan T. Spalding and Clerk of Council Jennifer H. Mason certified both pieces of legislation, with Law Director Benjamin S. Albrecht approving them as to form.

No project cost or construction timeline for the Beech Road work has been publicly released. The resolution takes effect immediately, and the city must now negotiate with affected property owners or proceed to formal appropriation.