Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

To the citizens of Pickerington:


You and the members of the local press have been tricked once more by the majority of this Pickerington City Council and the Mayor with the full cooperation of the City Manager. Getting feedback from citizens that have been asked to sign the growth plan initiatives we hear people saying, ?“Oh, I thought they already passed a moratorium?”. When told they changed it to allow 400 homes per year and more if the builder pays $1,000 per lot they are surprised.

There is a group of us circulating a Growth Plan Initiative which calls for a two year moratorium until the growth plan is completed and working. It will only allow a one and a half percent residential growth rate after that. That would be about 50 to 70 houses per year once in effect. We would be required to hire an outside planner to develop and a long term capital improvements plan including the schools. They would also need to identify the sources of revenue for us to pay for these improvements. This plan would encourage commercial development and not place any restrictions of senior housing. I will recommend that we use the Hudson Ohio plan as our model. They have defended it in court and I believe we are very similar to Hudson and we currently have the same problems they had in the mid 90s.

The Mayor and the majority of this council have lulled us all to sleep the past month by saying they would negotiate in ?“GOOD FAITH?” but all the time buying time to get in place more building permits. Mr. Fox presented this to Mr. Shaver with the condition that Mr. Shaver would negotiate in good faith but he was only buying time.

The growth plan initiative is live and well. The announcement last night at the city council meeting helped fire up the troops and I have received some very encouraging e-mails this morning. We need some additional signatures for insurance in case some are rejected. We will also need to fight the city and the Law Director in placing the issue on the ballot. You know it is coming and they will find something to try to reject it. That plan is posted below.

If there are people reading this posting that have not signed the petition please contact me and I will find someone to get your signature. I believe Lisa Reade has posted her contact information below and she is willing to get your signature.


My Phone number is: 837-9848

Growth Plan initiative pt.1

AN ORDINANCE ENACTING A GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN ON THE ISSUING OF HOUSING PERMITS AND OR SEWER TAPS FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO TWO YEARS.


Whereas, the rapid growth of residential units in the City of Pickerington threatens to place undue burdens on the schools, water and sewer services, roads, police and other city services; and,

Whereas, it has been proposed that the City of Pickerington and Violet Township participate in a ?“Growth Summit Meeting?”, and

Whereas, it will be necessary for the City of Pickerington to develop a joint agreement with Violet Township for the management of this growth, and that this will take a reasonable period of time; and,

Whereas, it is necessary to retain the services of various professionals in the fields of city planning and costs of community services in order to develop such a joint agreement, and that this will take a reasonable period of time; and,

Whereas, our current debt load must be lowered with a much stronger tax base to support both the city and the district school system;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF PICKERINGTON, FAIRFIELD-FRANKLIN COUNTIES, OHIO A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORATE APPROVING.

Section 1: That for a period of two years from the date of the effective date of this ordinance, no housing permits or sewer taps for single residential units shall be issued by the City of Pickerington, except as otherwise provided by this ordinance.

Section 2: That this ordinance shall not impair any contracts between a builder and a person who intends to construct a single residential unit for his or her personal use in effect at the time of the effective date of the ordinance.

Section 3: That housing permits and sewer taps may still be issued during this period for the construction of single residential housing on plats that have received final approval of the City Council at the effective date of this ordinance as follows:

1) Such building/housing permits and sewer taps shall be limited to those residential units that will house or care for official senior citizen?’s (persons age 55 and older) housing. All others permits and sewer taps shall not be allowed for any reason until a growth management plan is in effect for the City of Pickerington.

2) Any person wanting to build a house on their own lot which they owned prior to the effective date of this ordinance and they intend to use this house as their primary residence will be exempted from the moratorium.


Section 4: To provide guidance to the city government the following provisions must be included in a Growth Management Plan:

1) The growth management plan for the City of Pickerington will require that the residential unit growth rate for the City of Pickerington shall limit residential unit growth to a one and one half percent (1 ?½%) growth rate of the existing residential units currently being occupied in the city. This is approximately 50 to 70 residential units per year.

Growth plan initiative pt 2

2) The Growth Management Plan will require the City of Pickerington to retain the services of an outside planning firm to determine possible sites in the City of Pickerington and Violet Township that would suitable for Commercial development.

3) The City of Pickerington shall retain the service of a professional firm to determine and develop a ten (10) year capital improvement plan for the city and the township. This study must include infrastructure needs and a time line on their completion. These needs shall be determined by a series of public meetings and a vote of the Pickerington City Council. The study must identify to the City of Pickerington the sources and taxes revenues that they will need to pay for these Capital Improvement needs.

4) The Pickerington City Council must develop an allotment plan for issuance of building permits and it must be based on a proportional basis.

5) This ordinance will require the City of Pickerington to proceed with this plan regardless of the Violet Township Trustees actions and their decision to participate in this planning.

6) All senior housing and senior care facilities will be exempted from any residential growth controls.

7) All commercial development and non-residential properties shall be exempted from any growth controls.

8) Upon the final approval of the above described Growth Management Plan, the housing moratorium would be lifted and housing permits and sewer taps would be issued as prescribed in the approved Growth Management plan.

Section 5: This ordinance shall become effective as the earliest period authorized by law.