Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

One of the best examples of inconsistency with PATA member, Jeff Fix is that he stood tall and proud for the CEDA with Canal Winchester and Violet Township. I kept hearing remarks that it will benefit our Township and will not affect our own school district. I beg to differ. These workers will probably have a sizable portion that will live in our school district as we are superior to the current plight in CW Schools. Remember the 27/27? They will also bring added stress to our roadways. Mr. Fix hands-down and knowingly supported high density in the school district of our neighbor and vows to fight it in our own. Just who does he think he is fooling? Nope the shoe doesn't fit. He has a track record. I will post my tidbits of interest from my last letter to the editor below. Cease and desist from more falsehoods and PATA member mantra about people not knowing what school district we live in. The difference between me and you is that I still do not like it. High-density housing is a problem for any school district. Enjoy.........

CEDA letter

Planning and cooperation are necessary to the betterment of our communities. It does not matter in which community we reside the importance still presses us all.

The CEDA is such a proposal that I believe epitomizes the cooperative spirit by design. I do however, continue to have serious concerns about the Violet Township-Canal Winchester CEDA, as a Violet Township resident. Bob Harding, PATA spokesperson, was most recently noted as speaking of the appropriateness of cooperative efforts in matters where zoning in either area affects the residents of both areas. I believe the same to be true with the US 33 Corridor area. Zoning is just one instance that will affect other outlying residents. The CEDA most certainly affects the welfare of the residents of Violet Township, Pickerington, and Canal Winchester. It is very appropriate for any of these residents to ?“sound off?” accordingly.

This 100-year CEDA actually involves just under 1200 acres of land instead of the 800 stated in the press releases. A few calculations of acreage will verify this as fact.

The 1993 Pickerington Comprehensive Plan did establish a substantial portion of the proposed CEDA area as a planned business park. This is certainly not a surprise to any of the entities involved. However, a lot of that area is now what is known as the Canal Pointe Industrial Park. The Village of Canal Winchester purchased that land to create their industrial park. Common sense will tell us that if you publish a plan that others might disagree with, those opposing entities will look for a way to make the outcome to their own benefit.

The City of Pickerington duly noted in 1993 that the location of industrial/commercial within the Pickerington Local School District was indeed a factor used in determining their classifications for planned uses. The importance of industrial development has been discussed for many years between township, city and school district officials. The City of Pickerington leaders also determined their plan needed modifications.

In 1997-1998, Violet Township, City of Pickerington and Pickerington Local School District officials met as two separate subcommittees regarding residential and commercial/industrial development. These subcommittees were established by the Pickerington Local School District to promote discussions and cooperation on difficult issues relating to our growing community. The necessity of cooperation in the Diley Road area was also discussed then between the entities with a verbal commitment given from both Township and City officials to cooperate in bringing about a Commercial/Industrial Park that would benefit Pickerington Local School District.

In 1998, Violet Township Trustees established their own Development Plan. They established that most of the proposed CEDA area is designated for business and industrial land usage. They also designated that an appropriate land use would be for limited multi-family housing in planned development to serve as a transition from industrial to the surrounding area.

Do approximately 700 dwelling units qualify as ?“limited?” multi-family housing? Does such development really belong within the actual CEDA area? I still hold to my opinion that it is not appropriate here. I have seen numerous disputes, failed petition drives and now a pending referendum over much lesser densities and zoning changes in my own community. Canal Winchester citizens took out an initiative petition about condominiums proposed behind their shopping center. When my own Township Trustees have become willing CEDA participants/litigants and no longer fight annexations, how do I know that the same kind of multi-family housing won?’t be permitted in the Pickerington Local School District? No such assurances can be given!


To Be Continued Again.......

CEDA Letter 2

Canal Winchester officials were cited in earlier reports as saying that the development and maintenance of roadways would not be possible for the CEDA area without the cooperative efforts with the Violet Township Trustees. Violet Township excels in the care of the roadways for their citizens. The 1998 Violet Township Development Plan also permits us to observe that the future growth of Canal Winchester is totally dependent upon their ability to expand borders by crossing US 33 to escape the massive floodplain restrictions placed upon them by the topography of their current boundaries. The largest part of all floodplains that exist in the Violet Township area are located within Canal Winchester lands and the South Violet Area. Canal Winchester must grow by going north and then east. During the entire Violet Township Development Plan process, there was no participation from Canal Winchester Village or their School District officials.

What kind of money will really be generated by such an area? Right now, all we have is to compare the income of Canal Pointe. Canal Pointe is the optimal to be expected and is initially what will be coming into Township coffers. According to figures of fiscal impact prepared by Mike Arcari and provided to me by Marsha Hall, the total income tax generated for the Canal Pointe Phase I Project was $168,066.64 for a year. The proposed CEDA gives 10% for each 1% of income tax totaling 20%. In this case, the dollars to Violet Township Trustees would be $33,613.33 for a year. I further conclude that this is not going to be sufficient for the dollars that will be required for expenditure by Violet Township.

Cooperation in the development of the 33 Corridor is not being addressed in a forthright manner between all affected entities of Violet Township, Pickerington, and Canal Winchester. I realize that talking together suffered a serious blow to both Violet Township and the City of Pickerington over potential merger discussions. I further realize that Pickerington and Canal Winchester are striving to increase their viability for their residents. Please don?’t let differences of opinion quash the important matters you need to address. Diley Road is the designated interchange. All entities have been involved in the ODOT planning efforts. Make a cooperative effort we can all be proud of. Let the CEDA really be a milestone. It will be, if you work TOGETHER.

R-10 Apartments Refugee

Looks like your buddy Mr. Berry is marketing his land next to the new police station stating it has R10 zoning for apartments, Please see the PATA newsletter for copies of the advertisements for the land. (and soon near the New high School both on Refugee Road he will be seeking R-10 for the same purpose.)

I remember Mr. Yocum speaking at the Columbus development Commission about high density zoning for apartments farther West on Refugee, opposing it because of the impact on the schools of such a small amount of acreage creating so many residences. Other city residents voiced complaints about the traffic such apartments would bring. Well, where is Mr. Yocum on this issue now and since this development is in the city should that make it OK with school officials?

You wonder why people state that you and Mark act like puppets on some issues....... here it is plain as day when the person who leads the Group you embrace, Citizens for a Strong Violet Township/Pickerington is going behind your back and attempting to build high density apartments, which you oppose, right in your backyard.