Annexations
The annexation laws in Ohio changed in 2002. Municipalities can annex land from township over the objections of the township. As late as August of 2006 Lithopolis completed an annexation of land out of southern Violet Township over the objections of the Twp.
In most case the property owners must consent to the annexation. However if over 50% of the land owner apply to the municipality to annex into that municipality then the annexation can still occur. The township has some standing in the process to oppose but if the annexation is done with a competent law firm the trustees have little they can do to stop the process.
In the past Pickerington put together some annexations that were less than acceptable for the community. Hey gave away water and sewer tap fees and raised the concerns of the citizens. The trustees did file suit and they were successful in delaying the process only.
Normally property owners contiguous to the city can apply and be annexed into Pickerington. Violet Township has threatened over the years to file suit but they probably would loose in the process. It all comes down to property rights of those owners contiguous to Pickerington. They normally will want to annex to get the water and sewer and road access. There is very little property along Pickerington borders that the city controls these infrastructures. Most of it is along Diley road north of Busey and out east along 256.
If the city annexes property under the new law and it is a normal annexation (not the expedited method 30 day version) then that property in the future can be removed from the township if the city chooses to form a paper township. If the property is removed from the township the city would be required to make payment to the township in service payments over a 12 year period and a declining scale payment schedule. (example: first three years 87% down to the 11th and 12th year of 42% of the road and bridge levy money) It should be noted that Cristie Hammond was not aware of this provision and didn?’t believe the city could remove the property from the township EVER. She bought hook line and sinker the township?’s line about this and also their quotes in the paper. Jeff Fix was totally unqualified in doing these negotiations for the city. Under the old law the city could remove the property from the township and not pay anything to the township. All land currently under the City of Pickerington was annexed under the OLD LAW.
So the short answer here is that Pickerington has leverage to annex down along Diley and out east of the city. They can still annex into areas where they do not provide utility services but that would need to be considered in any future annexations with the county commissioners and the land owners involved. Since the twp doesn?’t have utilities they would be out of the picture in most cases. Land owners or at least 51% of the land owners must consent to the annexation before the annexation can go through. This property must be contiguous to the City and have at least 5% of the property line contiguous to the city property. Zoning of the land remains the same until changed by the city no restrictions of type.
In a JEDD, 100% of the land owner must consent to the JEDD. None along US 33 have consented to anything. All of the land must be commercial in a JEDD.
The annexation laws in Ohio changed in 2002. Municipalities can annex land from township over the objections of the township. As late as August of 2006 Lithopolis completed an annexation of land out of southern Violet Township over the objections of the Twp.
In most case the property owners must consent to the annexation. However if over 50% of the land owner apply to the municipality to annex into that municipality then the annexation can still occur. The township has some standing in the process to oppose but if the annexation is done with a competent law firm the trustees have little they can do to stop the process.
In the past Pickerington put together some annexations that were less than acceptable for the community. Hey gave away water and sewer tap fees and raised the concerns of the citizens. The trustees did file suit and they were successful in delaying the process only.
Normally property owners contiguous to the city can apply and be annexed into Pickerington. Violet Township has threatened over the years to file suit but they probably would loose in the process. It all comes down to property rights of those owners contiguous to Pickerington. They normally will want to annex to get the water and sewer and road access. There is very little property along Pickerington borders that the city controls these infrastructures. Most of it is along Diley road north of Busey and out east along 256.
If the city annexes property under the new law and it is a normal annexation (not the expedited method 30 day version) then that property in the future can be removed from the township if the city chooses to form a paper township. If the property is removed from the township the city would be required to make payment to the township in service payments over a 12 year period and a declining scale payment schedule. (example: first three years 87% down to the 11th and 12th year of 42% of the road and bridge levy money) It should be noted that Cristie Hammond was not aware of this provision and didn?’t believe the city could remove the property from the township EVER. She bought hook line and sinker the township?’s line about this and also their quotes in the paper. Jeff Fix was totally unqualified in doing these negotiations for the city. Under the old law the city could remove the property from the township and not pay anything to the township. All land currently under the City of Pickerington was annexed under the OLD LAW.
So the short answer here is that Pickerington has leverage to annex down along Diley and out east of the city. They can still annex into areas where they do not provide utility services but that would need to be considered in any future annexations with the county commissioners and the land owners involved. Since the twp doesn?’t have utilities they would be out of the picture in most cases. Land owners or at least 51% of the land owners must consent to the annexation before the annexation can go through. This property must be contiguous to the City and have at least 5% of the property line contiguous to the city property. Zoning of the land remains the same until changed by the city no restrictions of type.
In a JEDD, 100% of the land owner must consent to the JEDD. None along US 33 have consented to anything. All of the land must be commercial in a JEDD.
