Chevington Woods

Coming to Some Backyards in Chevington North

Annexation area in Licking County Borders Chevington North

REYNOLDSBURG BALKS AT LIMITS ON ETNA TOWNSHIP ANNEXATION
Published: Saturday, April 30, 2005
NEWS 01B
By Jim Woods
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Reynoldsburg's leaders are refusing to annex 385 acres because, they say, Columbus is trying to control what will be built on the land.

Columbus granted permission to Reynoldsburg to extend water and sewer lines into 600 acres of Etna Township in Licking County, 385 of which could become part of Reynoldsburg. But the Columbus City Council decided in July that the waterlines would be big enough to serve only houses and a few small businesses.


Columbus has contracts to provide water and sewer service to 22 suburban communities. Reynoldsburg must have permission from Columbus to extend service.

Reynoldsburg Mayor Bob McPherson said he won't sign the new contract with Columbus. He said Reynoldsburg needs bigger water and sewer lines and the flexibility to develop businesses along with houses.

"Houses do not bring in the income we need to sustain the city's growth,'' McPherson said.

Reynoldsburg City Councilman Eric Gilbert said Columbus and developers appear to be on the same side. Land Network, which has options to buy the land, wants to sell the 385 acres to Homewood Homes. About 1,000 houses could be be built there.

Columbus also wants to ensure that Reynoldsburg doesn't use the land to compete for offices, shops and industry, Gilbert said.

There are always concerns about newly annexed suburban land competing with Columbus for business, said Columbus Councilwoman Patsy Thomas, chairwoman of the Public Utilities Committee. Thomas said Columbus offered Reynoldsburg a water line that would serve homes with some small business, but Reynoldsburg wanted more than it originally requested.

Land Network is owned by Frank Cipriano, a major campaign contributor to Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman and council members. Cipriano, his wife and a Land Network employee contributed $8,500 this year to three Columbus council incumbents, including $6,500 to Councilwoman Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, who leads the development committee. O'Shaughnessy said she's never discussed the Etna Township issue with Cipriano.

Coleman received $33,390 from 1999 to 2003, making Land Network the mayor's 11th-largest donor, according to campaign-finance reports. Cipriano gave another $1,300 to Coleman in 2004. Coleman has said that campaign contributions do not influence policy in his administration.

Cipriano has earned a reputation for getting difficult projects over development hurdles. Cipriano did not return calls seeking comment.

James Bates, a real-estate broker representing Land Network, said he is optimistic that the deal can be saved. He said Land Network invested two years in the project and the landowners still want to sell.

Cipriano watched to see whether Reynoldsburg and Columbus would work out the water and sewer issue, said Dick Brahm, a lawyer who represented Land Network on annexation issues.

Columbus Public Utilities Director Cheryl Roberto said she was working within guidelines set by the City Council and sent a proposal to Reynoldsburg. She said she hadn't heard from the suburb for months.

Negotiations were a "waste of time,'' McPherson said, because both sides were set in their positions. He said it's up to Etna Township to decide how the land is developed.

The land could be served by Southwest Licking Water and Sewer Service, said Etna Township Trustee Paul George. "It will keep them (Reynoldsburg) from flooding our school system and tearing down our infrastructure.'' The Southwest Licking school district would get the students from homes built on the 385 acres.

But Bates said it doesn't make economic sense for the Palmer Road area to be served by Southwest Licking Water and Sewer. Bates said it would cost thousands of dollars more to tap into the Southwest Licking system.

Bates said Reynoldsburg would be missing out on an opportunity if it doesn't annex the Etna Township land.

jwoods@dispatch.com

Annexation in Your backyard...homes or businesses

The Columbus Dispatch