Can't make up their minds and can't please everyone.
VIOLET TOWNSHIP/PICKERINGTON
Homeowners protest plan for offices
Developer must get change in zoning, water and sewers
By Kirk D . Richards THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Residents in a neighborhood near Wright and Diley roads in Violet Township are resisting plans to build four office buildings near their homes.
Bruce Engelhardt, who lives in a subdivision abutting the property, said the offices would be out of character for the area.
The developer is asking the township trustees to approve placing offices on land zoned for homes. Developer David Dozer also is lobbying the Pickerington City Council for water and sewer service.
Dozer said the offices should generate up to $40,000 a year in income-tax revenue for the Pickerington schools attended by students from both the city and township.
An architect designed the $4 million development with the residential area in mind, he said. ''I think it?’ll fit in very nicely.?’?’
Engelhardt is protesting, calling the proposal an attempt at spot zoning that could harm property values of homeowners.
''I?’m not saying it?’s a bad office. It?’s bad planning for our residential structure,?’?’ Engelhardt said. ''To me, it benefits a single landowner.?’?’
The proposal also goes against the township?’s comprehensive plan that calls for the area to be entirely residential, Engelhardt said.
Violet Township Administrator Bill Yaple, who supports the proposal, said it is acceptable to go against the plan because it was created before the township knew that Diley Road eventually will become a fivelane highway; Diley currently is two lanes.
Yaple said he was surprised when some residents called saying they did not know a hearing had been held on the issue. He has invited them to attend a second hearing on Feb. 15.
The township zoning board has recommended that the trustees approve the project.
''I don?’t understand?’?’ the opposition, Yaple said. ''The proposed owner met with subdivision folks and tried to work through things.?’?’
Pickerington City Councilman Ted Hackworth said his service committee is expected to consider the issue on Thursday.
''I don?’t know what we?’ll do with that?’?’ until more information is gathered, he said.
Meanwhile, Pickerington Councilman Michael Sabatino said he is inclined to reject the request to extend water and sewer to the development, because the city?’s capacity is limited.
''If it?’s not in the city, it?’s not contributing to our commercial tax base,?’?’ Sabatino said.
If the developer were to accept annexation into Pickerington, ''that would be another story,?’?’ Sabatino said, because the developer then would have to request rezoning from the city.
Annexation also would mean the city would receive income taxes from the workers there and the buildings would be subject to the city?’s design standards and impact fees, Sabatino said.
Dozer thinks people eventually will see the financial benefits that offices could bring to the area.
krichards@dispatch.com
VIOLET TOWNSHIP/PICKERINGTON
Homeowners protest plan for offices
Developer must get change in zoning, water and sewers
By Kirk D . Richards THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Residents in a neighborhood near Wright and Diley roads in Violet Township are resisting plans to build four office buildings near their homes.
Bruce Engelhardt, who lives in a subdivision abutting the property, said the offices would be out of character for the area.
The developer is asking the township trustees to approve placing offices on land zoned for homes. Developer David Dozer also is lobbying the Pickerington City Council for water and sewer service.
Dozer said the offices should generate up to $40,000 a year in income-tax revenue for the Pickerington schools attended by students from both the city and township.
An architect designed the $4 million development with the residential area in mind, he said. ''I think it?’ll fit in very nicely.?’?’
Engelhardt is protesting, calling the proposal an attempt at spot zoning that could harm property values of homeowners.
''I?’m not saying it?’s a bad office. It?’s bad planning for our residential structure,?’?’ Engelhardt said. ''To me, it benefits a single landowner.?’?’
The proposal also goes against the township?’s comprehensive plan that calls for the area to be entirely residential, Engelhardt said.
Violet Township Administrator Bill Yaple, who supports the proposal, said it is acceptable to go against the plan because it was created before the township knew that Diley Road eventually will become a fivelane highway; Diley currently is two lanes.
Yaple said he was surprised when some residents called saying they did not know a hearing had been held on the issue. He has invited them to attend a second hearing on Feb. 15.
The township zoning board has recommended that the trustees approve the project.
''I don?’t understand?’?’ the opposition, Yaple said. ''The proposed owner met with subdivision folks and tried to work through things.?’?’
Pickerington City Councilman Ted Hackworth said his service committee is expected to consider the issue on Thursday.
''I don?’t know what we?’ll do with that?’?’ until more information is gathered, he said.
Meanwhile, Pickerington Councilman Michael Sabatino said he is inclined to reject the request to extend water and sewer to the development, because the city?’s capacity is limited.
''If it?’s not in the city, it?’s not contributing to our commercial tax base,?’?’ Sabatino said.
If the developer were to accept annexation into Pickerington, ''that would be another story,?’?’ Sabatino said, because the developer then would have to request rezoning from the city.
Annexation also would mean the city would receive income taxes from the workers there and the buildings would be subject to the city?’s design standards and impact fees, Sabatino said.
Dozer thinks people eventually will see the financial benefits that offices could bring to the area.
krichards@dispatch.com
