Deal would make land better for development

ThisWeek CW 10/31/2012

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2012/10/30/groveport-city-council-deal-would-make-land-better-for-development.html

Groveport City Council is considering several property deals and zoning changes related to development in the city.

At their Oct. 22 meeting, council members heard the second reading of an ordinance that would authorize the purchase of a small, triangular shaped piece of Scott Peer’s property at 715 Elm St., and the sale of a similar small, triangular shaped piece of city property back to Peer.

This would result in two parcels with more uniform shapes, according to Law Director Kevin Shannon.

“This is near our canal land property at Front and Main streets, where we’re looking to do a lot combination,” Shannon said. “We bought several tracts from various folks, so eventually, we’ll combine the lots to make it easier for future development.”

Shannon said the deal is primarily a housekeeping issue and no money is actually being exchanged between the parties. However, he recommended the city purchase title insurance at a “nominal cost.”

“We received a large grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, who were trying to rid themselves of those canal lands, and there’s been interest in trying to redevelop that northeast corner,” Shannon said.

As previously reported by ThisWeek Canal Winchester Times, a project involving construction of senior housing by LW Associates requires the rezoning of approximately 7 acres, currently owned by Valerie Sholtes, east of Hendron Road and north of Glendening Drive.

The company hopes to receive funding for the 50-unit project through an Ohio Housing Finance Agency process, backed by federal housing credits. If approved, construction could begin by 2014, company representatives said.

Council approved sending the ordinance to the Groveport Planning and Zoning Commission for review. The planning commission’s next scheduled meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at the Municipal Building, 655 Blacklick St.

Also last week, council unanimously approved an ordinance granting two parcels of land to Groveport.

Per the development agreement for the Elmont subdivision, just south of Bixby Road, the parcels east of Walden Terrace and west of Queen Victoria Street, including a retention pond, will be owned and maintained by the city, upon satisfactory completion of all other agreements.

“As far as the original development agreement, which talked about how these reserves would be donated to the city, well, they’ve met all the requirements, so this is the last thing the developer (Stonehenge Land Co. and Mina Dioun) need to do and then we’ll maintain it from here on out,” Shannon said.

The next scheduled city council meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, at the Municipal Building.