Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Crowd turnout shuts down public hearing
Violet Township residents don't want service station built near homes
By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
tkulemeka@nncogannett.com
VIOLET TOWNSHIP - The Violet Township Trustees were overwhelmed when more than 100 people showed up to speak at a public hearing Wednesday night.
The public hearing - which was supposed to be a forum for the public to speak for and against a proposed variance - never took place, though many residents briefly voiced their opinions and questioned trustees.
''I hate to do this to everyone, but we're overwhelmed by the attendance and suggest we continue (the public hearing) and find a location conducive to all the interested parties,'' said Violet Township Trustee Gary Weltlich, to a standing-room-only crowd.
More people stood outside of the meeting room doors.
A developer's proposed plan to build a strip center near the Spring Creek subdivision in Violet Township drew residents from that 87-home development to the meeting.
Preliminary drawings of the strip center showed a service station on the proposed commercial property. Spring Creek residents adamantly oppose a gas station being built near their homes.
Township trustees will reschedule the public hearing, pending the outcome of a meeting between the Spring Creek residents and the developer, Ambassador Development LLC.
Richard Ricketts, attorney for Ambassador Development, said there was an open house for residents but only seven people attended the open house. Ricketts said notices were sent to about 30 property owners near the proposed commercial development.
Residents want the township trustees to reject a variance that Ambassador Development is seeking. The variance would permit a gas station on the commercial property and open the door for other allowances that are currently restricted.
''They want to open the avenue up for building gas stations and having businesses open 24 hours, and that would be a detriment to our community,'' said Sheila Fuhs, who's lived in Spring Creek for three years.
Service stations, 24-hour businesses and businesses selling liquor and alcoholic beverages after 11 p.m. were some items restricted in the commercial area, according to the minutes of a township public hearing in 1996, regarding the subdivision - which didn't exist at that time.
''If they just didn't change a thing, we wouldn't be here right now,'' Fuhs said. ''The (variance) takes out all the good provisions that (were) agreed to in 1996.''
Residents say they knew the commercial area, which is at Milnor and Refugee roads, would be developed. But the 1996 meeting minutes state it would be limited to retail stores, personal services, business and professional offices, which residents say they don't mind.
Ricketts - who presented the plan to the trustees outlining the restrictions in 1996 - filed an application with the township for the variance in April. The application states that the variance is being requested because of change in circumstance. An inability to favorably develop a commercial tax base would occur if the variance isn't approved, according to the application.

continued....

Weltlich's hands are full

Donnell Gattis Jr., president of Ambassador Development, was surprised to see the turnout of residents at the meeting.
''I'm extremely surprised especially since we had an open house, and there were seven people there,'' Gattis said.
Gattis said preliminary drawings of the project showed a gas station, but he said he was trying to show what the possibilities could be for the commercial area.
''We're not trying to ramrod anything down anyone's throat,'' he said. ''We're trying to do something that brings value to the area.''
Gattis said he developed one project in Columbus and is working on another development out of state. He declined to name the Columbus development, saying that it was a good project but he no longer owned it.
Ricardo Penn, who's lived in Spring Creek for one year, told Gattis he's willing to work with him, but he refuses to reside next door to a gas station. Two empty lots separate Penn's home from the proposed commercial area.
''On paper, it just shows a gas station. But when you see that, you have to consider that's what it is,'' Penn said. ''Spring Creek is a beautiful little neighborhood. I love the community for one reason - the kids and the adults walk around and are safe. You put in certain things, and you lose that safety. We don't want that.''

Not one but two gas stations

I've also heard that SuperAmerica is going in at the northeast corner of Milnor and Refugee. Or across the street from this planned development.

Have also heard that the developers are arguing that the stations are needed for the ''convenience'' of the homeowner.

Just what I've heard ...

Did I say that?

I love lawyers. Many have very short memory spans and what they promise today may not be true next week, next month or next year.

''Ricketts - who presented the plan to the trustees outlining the restrictions in 1996 - filed an application with the township for the variance in April. The application states that the variance is being requested because of change in circumstance. An inability to favorably develop a commercial tax base would occur if the variance isn't approved, according to the application.''


''We understand that the citizens have a desire to ''preserve your rights.'' As a group we are committed to not give up the rights to annex land or conform the boundaries except in the case of significant economic development on lands that we do not have the ability to annex anyway. Preserving your rights is important. Securing the economic future of our community is also important. We believe that both will be accomplished if you vote to defeat Issue 9.''



David Shaver, Mayor on May 5th 2007.



Please note the reason of conditions changing justified the applicant to violate his own promises from 1996. So get ready for conditions changing between now and when ever. We will have gas stations all over the township to provide a better service to all. It will be bringing millions of dollars in commercial revenues.


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