PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Village of Hanover is facing growth and development from both the western and eastern boundaries due to investment in the region. As Columbus-adjacent growth spreads further east, Hanover’s natural beauty and rural charm are appealing to new development. In anticipation of this, the Village proactively adopted form-based zoning code updates and is in the process of establishing development standards to be applied to a new center area of the village along and just south of High Street. These new community planning policy tools will help Hanover, as development occurs over time, establish a core to be known as Hanover Village Center. Standards will require new development that is village-appropriate and reflects the architecture and neighborhood feel of old Hanover tragically lost to the flooding of 1959.

Beyond mobility and safety, the plan addresses environmental and long-term growth considerations. Stormwater management solutions will mitigate runoff from increased impervious surfaces, while traffic modeling will test development scenarios to maintain optimal capacity and avoid premature widening. Ultimately, this initiative will position High Street as a safe, neighborhood-friendly corridor that anchors Hanover Village Center—fostering connectivity, enhancing quality of life, and supporting sustainable growth for generations to come.

PROJECT LOCATION

PROJECT FUNDING

The High Street Feasibility Study is funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA under the Federal Dept. of Transportation) Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) program with funds dispersed and managed via ODOT and the Licking County Area Transportation Study (LCATS). The Village received $318,000 through this TIP program to fund this feasibility and preliminary concept effort that will work with the community on concepting and visualizations of a redesigned High Street through the Village Center and will then move the selected concept/visualizations forward to technical feasibility assessment and preliminary design. The Village has also submitted a grant application to the Rural and Tribal Assistance program via the Federal Dept. of Transportation for an additional $2.2 million and if received will allow for preliminary and detailed technical street design and related activities getting the project ready for the next phase (funding-dependent) which would be construction.