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It's nice to sit back & blame the State for our current problems.
It's nice to think about long term solutions.
But as a Community we have allowed local decisions to occur that have negatively effected our school system.
We have an immediate need for solutions that begin now & are not just in the ''let's think about trying to change the State Legislature'' - those aren't bad thoughts but we need strategies that have an immediate impact on the health of out schools.
There is an impact our Local Governments can have both positively & negatively to effect the short term & long term health of our School District & overall Community. These decisions can start now & our local governments can be drivers in these decisions. Citizens can be the drivers of the local government & make our leaders listen.
This is an election year so let's make sure the actions match the words or understand what the lack of action means.
1. Aggressively pursue the enablement of Commercial Lands in the PLSD - this should be done via support for the Allen Road Exchange off Rt 33 as well as a cooperative agreement with lands committed to a large Commercial project by both the City of Pickerington & Violet Township.
2. The PLSD Board, must engage Liberty Township at the upcoming June 9th meeting & ask for lower density as well as land for at least one school. They should also ask them to commit to join a CA in the event that one is formed within the PLSD Boundaries.
3. Rather than tying Residential growth to additional growth in the Township - the City should commit to tying Residential Growth to new Commercial Growth within the PLSD. If they haven't figured it out by now - Residential Property taxes won't maintain a School District. We need commercial development.
4. Consider Ron Sheldon to be the ''Outside Expert'' to verify any CA figures needed by the BIA & the City of Pickerington. Mr. Sheldon, currently the head of the Granville CA Board, was one of it's founder & a former School Board member in Granville. I can think of no better qualified man for the job. I for one would believe a recommendation made by this gentleman.
I could go on but there are a lot of great ideas out there - let's hear them.
By Outside the Box
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Density
All elected entities, City Council, Township & PLSD School Board could also ask developers within the City & Violet Township to lower densities on existing platted developments.
Clearly high density housing only benefits the BIA & it's developers. What's the advantage of high density housing for the Community?
The housing prices for the lower millage that is working for Granville is close to $100K higher than what is being built in Pickerington.
A minimum requirement should be added to the CA so if the housing does not meet the requirements needed it still bears a minimum need.
Mr. Stypes made a comment on Sunday that millage was determined by 2 factors:
1. Needs housing created
2. What the market would bear
He left out the biggest factor:
What can the Community bear? What can our School system bear? What can our children bear?
If the market can't handle the needs it creates why should the existing residents line up to fill in the gap ?? Maybe the BIA needs to rethink the type of housing it wants to place in our community & instead design housing that can survive the burden it will require! How's that for a free market economy - since when do existing residents need to subsidize business ??
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Emergency
Looks like the BIA has kicked up building permits, now at 325 near the record level for all of last year and we are just entering the building season!
David Shaver has stated that he will introduce an emergency building moratorium at the next council meeting. Lets not have this start on August first too they hoodwinked you once David. I think it is appropriate that it will be headlined right on the same page as the start of the parade of homes.
This is a real solution needed right now.
By The Observer
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Mayor Postage this is your watch
Remove Joyce Bushman from office. She reports to the mayor, at his pleasure. He is her boss, she has put him, the entire City Council, the Pickerington School District & this community in harms way by her incompetent handling of management of growth matters.
Amend the Moratorium to have an effective date of June 10th, hold an emergency meeting & use emergency legislation ?– every member of the School District will support & applaud this action.
The members of the Pickerington City Council need to exemplify the will of the community that has placed them into office. They need to have the fortitude to take a leadership role for the future of our children & this community.
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