CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — A petition drive seeking a public vote on Circleville’s annexation of 369 acres for the planned Scioto Preserve subdivision has failed, falling 374 signatures short of the number required under state law, according to the city auditor.
City Auditor Mark C. Bidwell notified the petition committee in an Oct. 21 letter that he could not certify the referendum for the ballot because it did not meet the signature threshold set by Ohio Revised Code 731.29. The law requires a referendum petition against a municipal ordinance to carry valid signatures equal to at least 35% of the electors who voted for governor in the city at the most recent gubernatorial election.
Based on the 3,957 votes cast for governor in Circleville in the November 2022 election, that threshold came to 1,385 valid signatures, Bidwell wrote. The petition, submitted Oct. 1, carried 1,486 signatures, but the Pickaway County Board of Elections could verify only 1,011 as belonging to registered Circleville voters, according to a letter from the board dated Oct. 19 that was included with Bidwell’s notice.
Because the petition fell short, the ordinance will not go before voters and remains in effect, Bidwell said.
The referendum targeted Ordinance No. 09.53.2026, which Circleville City Council passed Sept. 1 to annex 369.62 acres along Bell Station Road on the city’s north side, clearing the way for a subdivision called Scioto Preserve. City planning documents describe the development as including multifamily housing near a dog park and clubhouse, two sections of single-family homes, and stormwater retention ponds and walking paths along Dry Run creek. Residents raised questions about the annexation at an Aug. 18 council meeting that the city later answered in writing, according to the city.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the City of Circleville and the Pickaway County Board of Elections.
