DELAWARE — Delaware City Council unanimously approved a zoning map amendment for the upcoming Trailhead Crossings shopping center on Feb. 2, opening the door for at least four new businesses to break ground.
The $20 million project is being helmed by Chicago-based GTZ Properties. Managing principal Mitch Goltz confirmed on Feb. 11 that Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Dunkin’ Donuts and Take 5 will all have locations at Trailhead Crossings.
Goltz said the development process “soup to nuts” is about 24 months long. The goal is to break ground on a portion of the project in Q3 of 2026, with completion by the end of 2027.
He added a “big box store” is planned to land in Phase 2 of the project.
“Phase 2 is an eastern portion of land that would entail some form of big box store and then a connection of Biltmore Drive,” Goltz told Delaware Source on Jan. 16.
“Biltmore Drive would eventually connect to what the city is contemplating as a new North-South street, Byxbe Parkway, that will connect to Glenn Road on the south.”
Zoning details
During its Feb. 2 meeting, Delaware City Council officially rezoned the 10.3-acre property at the corner of Sunbury Road and Skyview Lane from C-CC (Community Commercial) to C-PUD (Commercial Planned Unit Development).
What does that mean?
“The land is agricultural, so the city took the initiative to rezone this for commercial to allow the type of development that we’re showing,” Goltz said on Jan. 16.
“So, what we [were] seeking approval of [was] not the zoning, but more the underlying land unit development. This allows the site plan in concept to show the multiple lots, uses and all those things that we’re showing in the plan.”
Goltz said the zoning change process took about six months but the project had been in the works for well over a year.
“It’s coming together nicely, and we’re in the final stages of the entitlements and lease up,” he said.
Several members of council asked Planning and Community Development Director Sandra Pereira on Feb. 2 about the differences between the zoning phase and the development phase as they relate to Biltmore Drive.
Pereira detailed how the current access points as they relate to these different streets are general, and once plans are more concrete, details surrounding the road changes will be available.
Why Delaware and more about GTZ Properties
Delaware’s rapid expansion is a big reason why the county was chosen by GTZ Properties for development, Goltz said.
“Delaware is the fastest growing county in the Midwest. There’s a lot of population growth, a lot of business growth here,” he said.
“This is a great piece of property, with all the property largely developed around it, and it’s a testament to the strength of the Columbus market and Delaware County, and particularly with Delaware, the city.”
GTZ Properties has completed over 200 projects over the years, in states including Ohio, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Tennessee.
Goltz said this project is particularly exciting.
“It’ll fill a big hole on the map of the city,” he said. “It’ll bring in a lot of new businesses, a lot of new energy, a lot of new jobs and amenities to the community that’s growing.
“We’re excited and proud to be the developers to see this thing through … and we’re happy that it’s finally time to see the project come to fruition.”
Below are photos from the Trailhead Crossings site as well as blueprints provided to the city of Delaware by GTZ Properties.
