Rural, low density zoning currently in place in Violet Township is constantly being eroded away by developers attempting to build more homes on their land than the current zoning allows.This is especially evident during annexation of land from the Township into the city of Pickerington. Almost all undeveloped land in unicorporated Violet Township is currently zoned R-1 or R-2, low density residential.
All zoning changes in unicorporated Violet Township must be approved by the Township Zoning Board and voted on by the Violet Township Trustees who both hold seperate public hearings on all the zoning changes before any action is taken to approve of disapprove such a request by a landowner.
The Trustees have NEVER pass a zoning issue by emergency method. Additionally, all public hearings are held BEFORE any zoning change is granted. All final plat passage consideration is on a TRUE final plat with lot sizes deed restrictions, street names and all other detail available for public review, including two public hearings BEFORE any action is taken on the final plat. These proceedings are unlike current practices in the City of Pickerington where pubic hearings (to solicit "comments") are held AFTER the zoning district designation is legislatively assigned in most cases. Final plat passage is done BEFORE any details are finalized or available for public review.
Densities of Recent Rezonings in Violet Township
Prepared by Lisa Ross, taken from a document provided
By attorney Richard Ricketts, in February 1997 at the Violet Meadows Zoning hearing #2 The Ashley Creek and Violet Meadows density has been added to the Ricketts info as these are the most recent projects.
Zoning amendment projects Gross Density per acre
Winding Creek (Milnor North of Refugee)- 1.77 per acre
(Hiser)
Barron’s Ridge (Countrywood, newer section) (Hiser)- 1.78 per acre
Summerfield 15 (Donley) East of Harmon Rd. - 1.8 per acre
**Summerfield 16 (Donley) Adjacent to - 1.92 per acre Summerfield 15 off SR 204
**Citizens fought this rezoning and threatened referendum on the rezoning vote,
Donley withdrew the application after the zoning board approved the rezoning but before the Trustees voted on the rezoning. Donley stated to the press that they did not want to do anything the citizens would not support. Donley withdrew from contract on the property. The Edwards Land Company (Glenshire) closed on the property and it is known as Ashley Creek.
Ashley Creek (Edwards Land Co) (F.A. Kohler) - 1.675 per acre
Spring Creek, (Halta Project), South of Refugee, - 2.0 per acre(single family)
East of Milnor, across from proposed Wellington Park
Sycamore Creek (Now in the City of Pickerington) - 3.0 per acre
Woodstream - 1.96 per acre
(Edwards Land Company)
*Property is in rezoning once again to allow 25 additional empty nester single family homes on 70’ lots. The empty nester section will exist as a gated community, with lawncare and maintenance included, at the front portion of the property. A citizens Committee recently negotiated with the developer to allow this empty nester portion as the only change to this
development. He originally wanted to make most all lots 70’ wide from the original 90’ to 100’ lots. His justification was that the Sycamore Creek project, across the street, was more dense and that Pickerington would allow him more density if he annexed instead of developing in the township. We convinced him that it was in his best interest to remain in the township and lessen the impact on the schools with a lower density figure than his proposed plan and in return we would support increased density in the empty nester portion alone since it would lessen the impact on the schools and yet provide him with a bigger return on the land. The final hearing is rescheduled for June 21st at 7:30 p.m. at the Township Hall …7/12/00 update, rezoning passed at the final hearing
Glenshire (Edwards Land Co) -1.66 per acre
Mallard Pond (Dominion) -1.89 per acre
Across from Melrose
North Side of Refugee Rd
Donated 15 acres to Pickerington Local Schools, location of Harmon Middle School
Year 2000 Rezonings
Violet Meadows, John Cotungo, -1.35 per acre
This rezoning was challenged by the threat of a referendum by the citizens of the Northeast Violet Township Civic Association (Chris Logsdon Chairman, Gary Wetlich, Vice Chairman) over a period of three and one half years. It was originally planned to have a density of 3.0 per acre on the first rezoning attempt. The difficult work in forcing a compromise upon the developer spanned three zoning hearings over this three-year period. The final plan allows only 20 more homes that the original underlying zoning on the property which is located in a very rural area of the township. Most lots in the area are 5 acres to 25 acres in size, so even with a 1.35 density this will give the area a very different look.
Email us
pickeringtontaxpayers@hotmail.com