Growth plan has Pickerington officials scratching heads
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Kirk D . Richards
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Two consultants who prepared an $85,000 development study for Pickerington received mixed reviews last night from the City Council.
The report, which was released last month, is intended to help officials manage growth.
Some council members struggled to figure out how the report will help, but still voted 6-1 to accept the plan.
Councilman Doug Parker cast the dissenting vote.
''I can?’t believe we spent $85,000 on this,'' said Parker, who said the conclusions in the report failed to break any new ground. ''I?’m disappointed.''
''Some of the things are rather obvious,'' said Councilman Michael Sabatino. ''As with anything, the devil?’s in the details.''
The authors of the study, Greg Dale of McBride Dale Clarion and Chris Cullinan of TischlerBise, faced pointed questions about how they came to their conclusions.
Councilman Brian Wisniewski said some numbers seemed ''suspect.''
He wanted to know why the study showed that the household income for a home on 1 acre is only $51,600.
Cullinan said that was based on the assessed value of such a home in Pickerington (which is $45,150) and he worked backward to determine how much a person would need to make to afford one.
Wisniewski said a 1-acre home has not been built in Pickerington in a long time, so such homes are old. That would affect the assessed value, he said. If such a home were be built today, the cost would be much higher, he said.
Overall, though, Wisniewski said the report offers a blueprint on how to proceed with growth.
The study concluded that light industrial and office development would be best for the city financially. That was the conclusion after comparing the costs to serve various sizes of homes and businesses with how much revenue each generates for the city.
''It reinforces what I?’ve been saying for a while,'' said Councilman William Wright, who has called for an emphasis on small business and a technology center or major medical facility.
''Pickerington?’s got to find its niche,'' he said.
Dale said the city must update the zoning code, which he said ''has been modified on a piecemeal basis.''
He said the city also must continue to update its design standards for homes and businesses.
Councilman Ted Hackworth said the report helps show that Pickerington is seeking to manage growth appropriately.
''A lot of it, we probably already assumed, but this puts it in an official context,'' Hackworth said. ''We?’re already in the process of implementing a lot of these things.''
krichards@dispatch.com
AFTER OVER FIVE YEARS ON COUNCIL DOUG PARKER NOW IS THE EXPERT. HE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE $85,000 THE CITY SPENT TO HAVE THIS STUDY COMPLETED BUT FAILS TO READ THE SMALL PRINT IN THE REPORT. THE SMALL PRINTS READS BUILDING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES COSTS EVERY EXISTING TAXPAYER OVER $500 PER ACRE IN CITY SERVICES NOT INCLUDING THE SCHOOLS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO IF DOUG WAS SO SMART WHY DID HE VOTE TO GET ALL OF THOSE TAXES INTO PICKERINGTON IN 2001 AND VOTED BY EMERGENCY. THEN THERE IS SABATINO WHO DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE AND BILL WRIGHT WHO NOW AFTER 10 YEARS ON COUNCIL IS PUSHING COMMERICAL DEVELOPMENT. WHERE WERE THESE THOUGHTS IN 2001 BILL AND MIKE?
By Going to the polls
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Kirk D . Richards
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Two consultants who prepared an $85,000 development study for Pickerington received mixed reviews last night from the City Council.
The report, which was released last month, is intended to help officials manage growth.
Some council members struggled to figure out how the report will help, but still voted 6-1 to accept the plan.
Councilman Doug Parker cast the dissenting vote.
''I can?’t believe we spent $85,000 on this,'' said Parker, who said the conclusions in the report failed to break any new ground. ''I?’m disappointed.''
''Some of the things are rather obvious,'' said Councilman Michael Sabatino. ''As with anything, the devil?’s in the details.''
The authors of the study, Greg Dale of McBride Dale Clarion and Chris Cullinan of TischlerBise, faced pointed questions about how they came to their conclusions.
Councilman Brian Wisniewski said some numbers seemed ''suspect.''
He wanted to know why the study showed that the household income for a home on 1 acre is only $51,600.
Cullinan said that was based on the assessed value of such a home in Pickerington (which is $45,150) and he worked backward to determine how much a person would need to make to afford one.
Wisniewski said a 1-acre home has not been built in Pickerington in a long time, so such homes are old. That would affect the assessed value, he said. If such a home were be built today, the cost would be much higher, he said.
Overall, though, Wisniewski said the report offers a blueprint on how to proceed with growth.
The study concluded that light industrial and office development would be best for the city financially. That was the conclusion after comparing the costs to serve various sizes of homes and businesses with how much revenue each generates for the city.
''It reinforces what I?’ve been saying for a while,'' said Councilman William Wright, who has called for an emphasis on small business and a technology center or major medical facility.
''Pickerington?’s got to find its niche,'' he said.
Dale said the city must update the zoning code, which he said ''has been modified on a piecemeal basis.''
He said the city also must continue to update its design standards for homes and businesses.
Councilman Ted Hackworth said the report helps show that Pickerington is seeking to manage growth appropriately.
''A lot of it, we probably already assumed, but this puts it in an official context,'' Hackworth said. ''We?’re already in the process of implementing a lot of these things.''
krichards@dispatch.com
AFTER OVER FIVE YEARS ON COUNCIL DOUG PARKER NOW IS THE EXPERT. HE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE $85,000 THE CITY SPENT TO HAVE THIS STUDY COMPLETED BUT FAILS TO READ THE SMALL PRINT IN THE REPORT. THE SMALL PRINTS READS BUILDING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES COSTS EVERY EXISTING TAXPAYER OVER $500 PER ACRE IN CITY SERVICES NOT INCLUDING THE SCHOOLS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO IF DOUG WAS SO SMART WHY DID HE VOTE TO GET ALL OF THOSE TAXES INTO PICKERINGTON IN 2001 AND VOTED BY EMERGENCY. THEN THERE IS SABATINO WHO DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE AND BILL WRIGHT WHO NOW AFTER 10 YEARS ON COUNCIL IS PUSHING COMMERICAL DEVELOPMENT. WHERE WERE THESE THOUGHTS IN 2001 BILL AND MIKE?
By Going to the polls
