Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I want to convey to the voters of The City of Pickerington that your rights are going to be challenged by YOUR city council once more. On November 5th you will have the right to vote on three issues on the ballot. I?’m talking about issues 17, 18 & 19. I fully intend to vote YES on all three issues. The Times-Sun only recommended that we vote yes on issue 19. I hope you all study the issues and you make a wise choice.

The issues before us, as voters, is that the Pickerington City Council still has on their agenda the ordinance 2002-126, which rescinds the ordinance 2002-96 and replaces it with a new version of the ordinance. This new ordinance (2002-126)has the required emergency language in it to be passed that night and it will become effective that night with no chance of a referendum.

The basic question we all must face is that in 1915 the Ohio Constitution was revised to allow the citizens of any community in this state to referendum their governing body?’s decisions. Our Pickerington City Council has found a legal way to deny you your right to referendum their decisions. They have before them 5 referendum petitions. They were aware of the first petition (The Reserve) before the last meeting. On November 5th meeeting they will be prepared for the other 4 petitions. You all must be prepared for their collective action. They can simply rescind all of these final plat ordinances and pass them as emergency, or they can just ignore the citizens and let the plats stand as ?“JUST AN ADMISTRATIVE?” process not subject to a referendum. Either way they vote in favor of the DEVELOPERS not the citizens who signed these 5 petitions requesting everyone make the decision.

I would urge each and every citizen of this community to make every effort to attend the November 5th Pickerington City Council meeting to voice your concern of the violation of your rights under the Ohio Constitution. These petitions are merely requests to have the issues placed on that ballot and to let the entire voting population make the decision on these 5 issues. If the City and the developers have a logical argument then lets hear that argument before the next election. Then let the voters decide. If the Pickerington City Council is so insecure about their collective decision making process and their final votes then maybe they need to find something else to do with their spare time.

Get informed on the issues !!!

I was disappointed to see the naive commentary on the Pickerington City Ballot Issues in today's Pickerington Times-Sun. It sounded like the new Media Director from the City sent them a press release.

Senior Developments - would be commercial development & not limited by the passage of Issue 17. It would limit the amount of condo's & apartments built in the area.

It also sounds like they have re-stated Mr. Parker's views - softer & gentler - If Council members actually listened to the people that elected them & acted in the voter's best interests - restrictive laws such as this might not be necessary. But a LOT of communities you would be proud to live in have them - Powell, New Albany, Granville & Delaware all have strict building codes & guess what ???? There is still construction & homes being built last time I drove through !!!

As for Issue 18, again the Times-Sun is wearing Rose Colored glasses. The Initiative exists because Council does abuse this tool & regularly gives away utilities to developers. It's interesting - as we went & got signatures on the petitions we circulated I heard numerous concerns from residents. Individual residents are being charged $5000 to get city water but Homewood gets a $100,000 utility credit to put in 340 homes. Makes sense ?? To assume if we vote no they will change their voting record is unrealistic at best.

Get Informed part 2 !!

Here's a little more information about the Pickerington Ponds which I hope is printed in next weeks papers:

Dear Editor:

I continue to be amazed at the Pickerington City Council & home developer John Bain of the Homewood Corporation. While they continue to say they are saving the Pickerington Ponds by developing a high density development next to it - let's look at what they have known since Summer of 2001 & left on the table.

Why is Mr. O'Meara's (Director of Metro's Park) concern about a nine month construction schedule vs. a year round construction schedule virtually not addressed in any plat or letter regarding The Reserve at Pickerington Ponds. After reading the Pickerington Ponds Impact Analysis I see that there are a lot of rare species, primarily birds, that nest at Pickerington Ponds. Metro Parks' greatest concern regarding noise will be the impact on the nesting of rare species. They requested in a letter dated July 2001 that major construction NOT occur during the nesting season on the portion of the property within 1/4 mile of park property. Nesting season is March 1 to July 1. Major construction for the purpose of these concerns include any construction involving the use of heavy equipment as well as the framing & external construction of homes. Does Homewood intend to have major construction from March 1 - July 1 ??

Why is the 21 acres of the Pickerington Ponds Watershed zoned R-4 if it is only ever going to be parkland ?? It seems that it either inflates the amount of a taxable donation or that at some period Homewood or the City of Pickerington intend to develop this parcel. The zoning was done after a copy of the letters regarding the 21 acres were discussed at the City Service Meeting led by Councilman Maxey - to state that this will be parkland but continue to have R-4 zoning on this piece of The Reserve seems to be a dichotomy.

In Mr. O'Meara's letter of July 2001 he also indicates the negative impact of an exit onto Schoolhouse Rd. as this connection will lead to greater traffic on Schoolhouse Road and subsequently to Bowen and Wright Roads. This may make it more difficult to close Wright or Bowen Roads in the future - which is a goal of Metro Parks. The developer should probably upgrade all of Schoolhouse Road if this plan is implemented since the current road is NOT designed or maintained for this amount of traffic. I recall being at a City Service Meeting in September of 2001 with the same concerns. The final plat still shows an exit - there are no plans that I have heard of for any type of improvements to Schoolhouse Road - only more traffic near a Nature Preserve. Mr. Bain what are your intentions as it relates Schoolhouse Road - other than to put 700 cars onto a road not made for that amount of traffic ?? Should this be a reason for an emergency to protect our Ponds ??

Why are the building specifics needed & outlined at the same September Service Committee meeting not included in the Final Plat ?? Specifically as it relates to basements, storm sewer piping, lighting, buffers & bike paths. Then Service Committee Chairman, Craig Maxey, specifically stated, ''No, we're not going to do that.'' My question is why not ???

I hope as people strive to become informed on The Ponds & The Reserve they ask these questions. Fifteen months later there are still no answers. Personally I don't feel this development has to stop, however I believe it needs to be well planned & fit seamlessly into the community. I still believe there is work to do & unresolved issues. 90% of Ohio Wetlands have been destroyed - will we let them take their best shot at the last 10% ??

Please plan to attend the November 5th City Council meeting where this issue & the other referendums will surely be on the agenda. Maybe the Council will even have answers to the above questions !!!

Sales

Everyone has an agenda...and they're going to be telling their story and voting based on it. We just need to recognize that.

What your signs should say is:

''VOTE FOR ISSUES 17,18, AND 19 -

THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME WILL INCREASE
YOUR TAXES WON'T INCREASE AS FAST''

I'll post any signs you want me too because I support your position, but if you're not willing to ''sell'' your side (not lie, just focus the benefits of supporting your position) then you are going to have trouble securing enough votes to beat those who are willing to do that.

Also, while I completely agree about the school signs, and I'll be voting against the levy, I recommend against allowing yourselves to be perceived as ''anti-levy''...that opens the door to your opposition labeling you ''anti-PLSD'', and that's not a winning position in Pickerington.

Believe what you want, but sell what you have!
Just my opinion, but I have experience.