Township sends city annexation proposal for 3 acres on Wright Road
By DAVID S. OWEN
Violet Township officials recently sent an annexation proposal to the city of Pickerington involving a 3-acre piece of land located at 10080 Wright Road.
The proposed annexation agreement will be on the agenda for City Council's Finance Committee agenda for a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
The township rezoned the land for commercial development early in 2006 despite concerns voiced by Pickerington residents who opposed the rezoning.
According to reports, the rezoned land will be developed into an office park and was offered to the city unofficially in 2006 as a possible Joint Economic Development District with the township.
Since then, city officials have delivered their opposition to entering into a JEDD for that piece of land because of residents' concerns and because of the cost it would take to provide water and sewer services to the area.
''What has been presented to us is an annexation agreement where the property owner, through the township, has requested us to annex the land,'' said Pickerington City Manager Judy Gilleland.
''The township's proposal is that the city retain 60 percent of the income tax and the township 40 percent,'' she said.
''What we're saying is, let's make an annexation agreement ... and we tried before with a JEDD, but they didn't want that,'' said Violet Township Trustee Terry Dunlap.
The property sits next to the Sheffield subdivision and has been the subject of concern for Pickerington residents that if it is developed into an office complex, it could invite a number of problems, notably lights at night, delivery schedules and possible disturbances caused by young people turning it into a skateboard park or party grounds.
Dunlap said the property owner wants build suburban offices which would keep regular business hours Monday through Friday and would not create any weekend traffic or night traffic.
''I don't agree with anything in this agreement, because they want 40 percent of the income tax and keep their property tax, and define the expenses ... but the city would be providing 100 percent of the services,'' said Pickerington City Councilman Ted Hackworth. ''Why would City Council give away taxpayers money for nothing in return?'' Hackworth asked.
''That doesn't make sense to me ... what are they doing for us for that 40 percent?''
Hackworth said he believed the reason the area was rezoned by the township was because Diley Road is being widened to four lanes, so it made the property attractive to be commercially developed.
''If that's true why can't we put the expenses for the Diley Road widening in there?'' he asked.
''We have $8 million in that thing, or more, and I am not in favor of giving Pickerington city taxpayers' money away to the township for nothing in return.
''That's kind of a general statement for everything they've been proposing here lately,'' Hackworth said.
By Saint Nick
By DAVID S. OWEN
Violet Township officials recently sent an annexation proposal to the city of Pickerington involving a 3-acre piece of land located at 10080 Wright Road.
The proposed annexation agreement will be on the agenda for City Council's Finance Committee agenda for a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
The township rezoned the land for commercial development early in 2006 despite concerns voiced by Pickerington residents who opposed the rezoning.
According to reports, the rezoned land will be developed into an office park and was offered to the city unofficially in 2006 as a possible Joint Economic Development District with the township.
Since then, city officials have delivered their opposition to entering into a JEDD for that piece of land because of residents' concerns and because of the cost it would take to provide water and sewer services to the area.
''What has been presented to us is an annexation agreement where the property owner, through the township, has requested us to annex the land,'' said Pickerington City Manager Judy Gilleland.
''The township's proposal is that the city retain 60 percent of the income tax and the township 40 percent,'' she said.
''What we're saying is, let's make an annexation agreement ... and we tried before with a JEDD, but they didn't want that,'' said Violet Township Trustee Terry Dunlap.
The property sits next to the Sheffield subdivision and has been the subject of concern for Pickerington residents that if it is developed into an office complex, it could invite a number of problems, notably lights at night, delivery schedules and possible disturbances caused by young people turning it into a skateboard park or party grounds.
Dunlap said the property owner wants build suburban offices which would keep regular business hours Monday through Friday and would not create any weekend traffic or night traffic.
''I don't agree with anything in this agreement, because they want 40 percent of the income tax and keep their property tax, and define the expenses ... but the city would be providing 100 percent of the services,'' said Pickerington City Councilman Ted Hackworth. ''Why would City Council give away taxpayers money for nothing in return?'' Hackworth asked.
''That doesn't make sense to me ... what are they doing for us for that 40 percent?''
Hackworth said he believed the reason the area was rezoned by the township was because Diley Road is being widened to four lanes, so it made the property attractive to be commercially developed.
''If that's true why can't we put the expenses for the Diley Road widening in there?'' he asked.
''We have $8 million in that thing, or more, and I am not in favor of giving Pickerington city taxpayers' money away to the township for nothing in return.
''That's kind of a general statement for everything they've been proposing here lately,'' Hackworth said.
By Saint Nick
