Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I would like to call your attention to the front page headline in This Week in Pickerington. I won?’t go to the trouble of pasting it in this forum but it deserves discussion.

Shopping Center OK?’d for Route 256

I think there are sides that need to be looked at and am sure all sides will prompt discussion. I sure hope that the current extremely unsafe access points in relation to Hill/Diley have been considered. Since no one in city government has demonstrated the testicular fortitude to stand up to the developer/owner of Drug Mart and say that they are required to relocate their entrance to a safer location, I only hope they are not as cowardly with this new developer. There, that is my safety rant.

Now, as to the rest of the article, they spotlight new development in Pickerington, the city. Mentioned are newcomers a 13 acre retail development, a 86 suite assisted living facility, an 11 acre shopping center and a 100,000 square foot retail/office complex. They talk about a 1,100 foot roadway extension bought and paid for by the developer of a 17.7 acre development south of Kohl?’s. Other recent additions to the city commercial tax base are Giant Eagle, National City Bank, Sky Bank, Huntington Bank (which I hear serves as a development model for other central Ohio cities) and Marcus Theater expansion. There?’s probably more like that big barn behind Kroger.

Wow! What a boost to the commercial tax landscape of this city. Is this truly one of the biggest commercial development years we have had? Is it a preview of things to come? Well, let me offer my personal thanks to the Trustees of Violet Township for making this all possible. You guys have done a wonderful job!

Wait a minute. I may have gotten ahead of myself. Could perhaps all this viable and vital commercial development have occurred within the city limits and not have been at all influenced by our Trustees? Could it be? Has this development occurred without the direct hand of our leaders like Shaver, Fix, Riggs, Hammond and Smith bringing it here and cooperating with the township to make it happen? I am not privy to the behind-the-scenes process of commercial development in this city so I hope someone who is chimes in and makes sure I am thanking the right people.

Enough sardonic witticisms. The truth is that this commercial development came to Pickerington because our city can support it. Simply stated, the commercial follows the residential and since we hit our peak with residential a few years back, this is a natural progression. It has absolutely nothing to do with economic agreements. It has absolutely nothing to do with the township. All it has to do with is the customer base and we have it.

Congratulations to the city. Although I think we are mostly led by incompetent, immoral, bickering, immature hillbillies, even a blind pig can stumble on an apple once in a while. For those who support the economic agreement because they believe that Toyota will locate its next manufacturing plant in southern Violet Township and each and every one of us will get rich off the deal, read the paper. The city can prosper on our own. When you continue to inbreed the people in the township government and the city government you end up with defective results like Mr. Fix.

Lastly, can anyone who knows post the commercial development in the township over this same period for a side-by-side comparison. I sure would love to see how they blew our doors off and why we are fools to dispute giving away our municipal rights to share their successes.


By Mack

Slowly things are getting better

It seems interesting that in a new regime in 2003 they imposed impact fees and now slowing are enacting commercial guidelines and in 2006 they have a banner year in commercial development.

I do believe I read a few months back that the city had passed a new access management plan. I also read more recently that Violet Township had also created an access management plan. The point is I think everyone in the community see the problems with traffic. To implement those plans will take years. I believe there has been some actions taken with the Drug Mart access issues like the south bound 256 right turn only onto Diley. I am not sure how much the lowering of the speed limit past there will help but we will see. I do believe the new members of council since 2003 have been listening to the city engineer more.

This new development plan put together by Fix will only dilute the potential future revenues of the City. I would fully look to see Jeff and Keith propose to raise the income taxes. The only saving grace for us is that the voters must pass the issue.

Caved

The developement on 256 that was approved did not follow the access management plan. They are allowing an access off of 256. That's why this is moving foward now.

The speed limit reduction on 256 is a joke. There is only 1 north/south corridor and slowing it down is stupid. Why don't you post the studies that were done for that area and NONE of them show a reduction to 35 mph. Probably promises to the church for votes.

By Anon

Not sure of what you claim

I don't have any study to post. Not sure who you think I might be. As for the access off of 256 not sure about that either. If you know so much why don't you run for council and fix these issues? I do know there is more commercial coming in and that is a plus.