November 13, 200618 yr Author From the 11/1/06 Pickerington Times-Sun: ThisWeek Pickerington: City weighing offer to keep annexing powers in pact with township (10/26/06) Proposed economic development pact stays in committee By DAVID S. OWEN In a special work session held Oct 24, Pickerington City Council members met to continue discussions about the proposed Economic Development Agreement between the city and Violet Township. The agreement, which has caused members of council to stall it from being advanced to the regular City Council agenda, remains in the Service Committee's hands. During the work session, Councilman Jeff Fix presented a Power Point presentation attempting to further strengthen his position the agreement will be good for the city. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS11-1/11-1_pkcouncil.html From ThisWeek Pickerington, 10/26/06: Pickerington joins alliance of Route 33 communities Thursday, October 26, 2006 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer; ThisWeek Staff Writer Robert Paschen contributed to this story. Pickerington has joined a regional consortium created to attract development to Fairfield County's primary commercial artery. At its Oct. 19 meeting, city council's finance committee unanimously authorized the city's membership in the Route 33 Growth Alliance, a group that has pooled funds to hire a consultant to market the evolving corridor to business investors. The alliance already consists of Canal Winchester and Lancaster; Bloom, Greenfield and Violet townships; Fairfield County; and the chambers of commerce from Canal Winchester, Pickerington and Lancaster. Pickerington will contribute $2,000 this year and $6,000 for each of the next five years to the group to help fund the marketing campaign, said the city's economic development director, Tim Hansley, who recommended membership to the finance committee. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=pickerington&story=sites/thisweeknews/102606/Pickerington/News/102606-News-248892.html
November 14, 200618 yr Author From the 11/5/06 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: PHOTO: Cool Cravings is one the new businesses that has recently opened in Canal Winchester. Growth in the area has skyrocketed over the past five years and new businesses are opening constantly. E-G photo by Jessica M. Crossfield Canal Winchester growth has skyrocketed in the past five years By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA The Eagle-Gazette Staff [email protected] CANAL WINCHESTER - A one-room schoolhouse sat along a two-lane country road called Gender Road less than 15 years ago. Today, The Prentiss Schoolhouse sits at a downtown site - a symbol of Canal Winchester's history. The two-lane road where the schoolhouse sat also is a distant memory. The corridor has two lanes on each side and is lined by retail giants like Kroger, Wal-Mart and Home Depot. The Gender Road corridor has grown from one shopping plaza anchored by Kroger and surrounded by cornfields to multiple plazas that include a host of casual dining and fastfood restaurants, banks and numerous specialty stores. And all of this growth in less than five years. Full story at http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061105/NEWS01/611050324/1002/rss01 From the 11/2/06 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Diley Road construction moves toward Pickerington By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA The Eagle-Gazette Staff [email protected] At a glance: The Diley Road project will widen the road from two to five lanes. Construction on the project could begin between July and October 2007. The project will cost nearly $14 million, of which the Ohio Department of Transportation pays 80 percent of the cost, leaving the city with the other 20 percent. Diley Road Timeline: August: Construction began along Diley Road in Pickerington and Violet Township. Today: Pickerington is obtaining rights-of-way from property owners and anticipates completing the acquisition phase by the end of the year. Early 2007: Relocation of utilities such as electric, gas and cable. June-September 2007: Construction bids could begin between those months. July-October 2007: Construction could begin depending on when bids are completed and a contractor is on board. Full story at http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061102/NEWS01/611020306/1002/rss01
November 15, 200618 yr Author From the 11/8/06 Dispatch: ThisWeek Pickerington: State may match PLSD's building costs (10/26/06) FAIRFIELD COUNTY Lancaster, Pickerington approving schools issues Wednesday, November 08, 2006 Mary Beth Lane THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH LANCASTER, Ohio — A Lancaster school-district income tax for operating expenses appeared to narrowly win yesterday, and a Pickerington bond issue to build new schools was approved. The final, unofficial results for the Lancaster district income tax showed it winning by 148 votes, with 50.5 percent of the vote. But the Fairfield County Board of Elections had 1,559 provisional ballots that were not yet counted. In Pickerington, the bond issue passed with 55 percent of the voters approving it. Pickerington school officials sought a $59.9 million bond issue to build two elementary schools and a middle school in the growing district of 10,018 students. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/news/news.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/08/20061108-E7-01.html From ThisWeek Canal Winchester, 11/9/06: ThisWeek Canal Winchester: BIA, village at odds over standards (11/2/06) The Times: Housing standards criticized (10/25/06) Council unanimously OKs zoning standards Thursday, November 9, 2006 By ROBERT PASCHEN, [email protected] ThisWeek Staff Writer Village council unanimously approved new residential zoning standards for Canal Winchester Monday night. The legislation voted on at the council meeting included some amendments from the original proposal. These included allowing partial chimneys on new homes if the chimneys are built on the back wall and not visible from the street. Also, all chimneys, whether full or partial, must be constructed out of masonry or stucco. Under the original proposal, all partial chimneys would have been prohibited on new homes. Requirements for landscaping were changed, as well. Rather than demanding 200 square feet of landscaping solely in the front yard, the amended ordinance allows for that 200 square feet, "consisting of shrubs and perennial flowers and at least one tree," to be to be split up between the front and side yards. Also, the requirement that the landscaping be "comprised of an elevated landscape bed, minimum 8-inches deep and minimum of 3-feet width, around the house foundation and garage," was taken out of the legislation. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=canalwinchester&story=sites/thisweeknews/110906/CanalWinchester/News/110906-News-257952.html
November 17, 200618 yr Author From the 11/15/06 Dispatch: Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Pickerington continues deal debate (11/14/06) Pickerington council divides on land deal 30-year pact would keep city from annexing some parts of Violet Township Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Kirk D . Richards THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH An economic agreement that would allow Violet Township to block Pickerington from annexing land for 30 years is headed to the Pickerington City Council. City administrators recommended reducing the term to 15 years. But a council committee rejected that. Administrators suggested that the agreement allow Pickerington to one day split from Violet Township and form its own township. The committee dismissed that idea, too. The Service Committee voted 2-1 to send the agreement, with few changes, to the entire council, which is to have its first public reading of the agreement on Tuesday. It could go to a final vote Dec. 19. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/15/20061115-C4-01.html
December 12, 200618 yr Author From The Times, 11/29/06: Route 33 Growth Alliance markets area to businesses By HOLLY FENNER From road closures and construction to new interchanges and businesses, the U.S. Route 33 corridor growth spurt has sparked the Route 33 Growth Alliance's marketing campaign. The alliance is a collaboration of area chambers of commerce including Pickerington, Canal Winchester, Lancaster-Fairfield, Carroll, and Violet, Greenfield and Bloom townships to develop a marketing plan to effectively attract new businesses to the Route 33 corridor, said Mike Arcari, economic development consultant for Canal Winchester. "We're trying to come up with a uniform plan to highlight the resources of the area and highlight the strengths of each community," Arcari said. The alliance is a 5-year-old, standalone organization that previously focused on transportation issues along the Route 33 corridor. "Once (the Ohio Department of Transportation) started making final decisions, the group decided to change direction and focus on marketing and business promotion," Arcari said. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS11-29/11-29_cwpk33growthalliance.html From ThisWeek Pickerington, 11/23/06: New school plans Connecting buildings could save $1-million Thursday, November 23, 2006 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer Pickerington school officials are considering connecting two of the three buildings voters approved the construction of this month. In a meeting with representatives from the district's architectural and construction management firms Monday morning, school administrators asked for a feasibility assessment for physically connecting the elementary and middle schools planned for a site at Tollgate and Refugee roads. Throughout the campaign for a $59.9-million bond issue that passed in this month's general election, the school board stated the district would build two of the three new schools the issue will fund on the same parcel in order to save money on site preparation and infrastructure development. However, by actually joining the elementary and middle school, the district could reduce project estimates significantly more by sharing building mechanical systems and amenities. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=pickerington&story=sites/thisweeknews/112306/Pickerington/News/112306-News-266144.html From The Times, 11/15/06: Council approves building standards By HOLLY FENNER Canal Winchester Village Council voted unanimously to approve the debated new residential standards at its Nov. 6 meeting. Prior to the council approval of the new residential standards, Sal Multerer, Canal Winchester resident opposed to the standards, said she could live with whatever legislation the village approved. Allan Neimayer, planning and zoning administrator, reviewed the edited version of the proposed standards with Village Council. The changes include permitting cantilevered and shed-type chimneys in the back of the house, landscaping in the front and side yards of the home will be included in the 200-foot landscaping requirement and landscaping must also shield exposed cinder block foundation. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS11-15/11-15_cwcouncil.html
December 13, 200618 yr Author From ThisWeek Pickerington, 12/7/06: Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Pickerington City Council clears initial hurdle (12/6/06) ThisWeek Pickerington: Despite defeat, JEDD plan returns to council (11/30/06) Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Pickerington council deadlocked (11/22/06) Columbus Dispatch: Pickerington land deal fails in backer’s absence (11/22/06) ThisWeek Pickerington: Joint development agreement to get full council vote (11/16/06) JEDD agreement nearing approval Thursday, December 7, 2006 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer Pickerington is close to adopting a cooperative development agreement with Violet Township that could direct the growth of the city for the next 30 years. Meeting Tuesday night, Pickerington City Council again heard the first reading of the proposal, which would lay the foundation for joint development agreements drafted for individual commercial projects outside city limits. Under the city charter, an ordinance must pass three readings before it becomes law, something that is expected to happen by early next month. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=pickerington&story=sites/thisweeknews/120706/Pickerington/News/120706-News-274374.html
January 19, 200718 yr Author From the Times, 12/13/06: Downtown Groveport Town center idea evolves By BRET LIEBENDORFER Community support has ushered in the planned Groveport downtown redevelopment plan as council passed an ordinance Nov. 27 that would lease land to Pizzuti. Both sides are now focusing on the next steps to make the project a reality. The 50-year deal will cost Pizzuti $1 per year to lease four tracts of land located on the northeast corner of Main and Front Streets. Following a mandatory 30-day waiting period that is required by city law once an ordinance is passed, the Groveport Community Improvement Corporation is then expected to formally sign the lease. Next, the city and the developer will work together to finalize the project's design. Finally, they will look for tenets to occupy the space. "The main tenet we're trying to anchor is a restaurant," said Groveport Development Director Jeff Green. "We've had a couple nibbles from some restaurants based here in Central Ohio." Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS12-13/12-13_cwredev.html
January 19, 200718 yr Author ^ Oops! From the 1/10/07 Pickerington Times-Sun: ThisWeek Pickerington: Council adopts joint-growth plan (1/4/07) Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Voters may decide fate of economic development agreement (1/3/07) Columbus Dispatch: Limited power to annex passes (1/3/07) Columbus Dispatch: 3 council members upset with proposal to limit annexations (1/1/07) Columbus Dispatch: Pickerington Council still at odds over Violet Township pact (12/20/06) ThisWeek Canal Winchester: Village supports JEDD agreement (12/14/06) Economic pact sparks referendum drive Backers hope to gather 1,000 signatures to put the council decision to a vote of the residents. By DAVID S. OWEN A referendum petition drive has begun as a result of Pickerington City Council's 4-3 vote Jan. 2 to approve a master economic development agreement between the city and Violet Township. The referendum is supported by council members Brian Wisniewski, Michael Sabatino and Ted Hackworth, all of whom voted against the agreement. Wisniewski said 20 volunteers are involved with the referendum effort and will be going door to door throughout the city this week to gather signatures in an effort to put the issue on the ballot for a vote of the residents in the November general election. To make the ballot, referendum backers need to gather at least 600 signatures of registered voters and have them approved by the Fairfield County Board of Elections. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS1-10/1-10_pkreferendum.html
January 21, 200718 yr Author From ThisWeek Pickerington, 1/18/07: Shopping center OK'd for Route 256 Thursday, January 18, 2007 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer City council Tuesday night unanimously approved the rezoning and final platting for an 11-acre retail center at the northwest corner of state Route 256 and Diley Road. The complex will include two main buildings totaling 50,000 square feet of space and three out-parcel lots. The developers, JDC Real Estate Development LLC and PB Diley Road LLC, also will construct an additional left-turn lane on Windmiller Drive at Diley. The shopping complex is the latest in a string of commercial projects the city has attracted over the past year. In 2006, Pickerington accepted development plans for a 13-acre retail development, an 86-suite assisted-living facility, an 11-acre shopping center and a 100,000-square-foot retail and office complex, all along the state Route 256 corridor. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=pickerington&story=sites/thisweeknews/011807/Pickerington/News/011807-News-292934.html From ThisWeek Canal Winchester, 1/11/07: Public hearing set for rezoning on Route 33 Thursday, January 11, 2007 By ROBERT PASCHEN ThisWeek Staff Writer A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at Town Hall to allow residents to comment on the proposed rezoning of approximately 70 acres along U.S. Route 33 directly west of Winchester Square Shopping Center. The land is owned by Casto developers as part of a group called Gender/Thirty-Three. "These are the same owners as Winchester Square Shopping Center," said Casto spokeswoman Kristin Mack. The public hearing is a requirement under rezoning provisions, said Allan Neimayer, Canal Winchester's planning and zoning administrator. After the public hearing, the rezoning request will then be placed before village council, he said. The land is currently zoned traditional neighborhood development (TND). Casto is asking that it be changed to exceptional use (EU). Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=canalwinchester&story=sites/thisweeknews/011107/CanalWinchester/News/011107-News-288758.html
April 1, 200718 yr Author From ThisWeek Pickerington, 1/25/07: Impact fees to grow despite slowdown Thursday, January 25, 2007 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer Pickerington officials expect growth in the city's impact-fee revenues this year despite a slowdown in residential construction. In 2006, the first full year of its pay-as-you-grow plan, Pickerington collected $952,296.79 in impact fees, which the city charges developers to help fund the additional infrastructure their projects necessitate. Impact-fee revenues also surpassed the 2006 budget estimate of $918,919.60 by 3.6 percent. The city divides this money into four funds which pay for the additional streets, police services, municipal facilities and parkland enhancements needed to support Pickerington's population growth. For 2007, deputy finance director Chris Schornack said he estimates that funding stream will increase by 7 percent to $1.02-million, even though housing starts are likely to decrease by nearly 25 percent within city limits. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/012507/Pickerington/News/012507-News-296888.html
April 2, 200718 yr Author From the 2/21/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: ThisWeek Canal Winchester: Village to pay Pickerington $103,000 (2/8/07) ThisWeek Pickerington: City to pursue eminent domain for Diley project (2/1/07) ODOT almost ready to take over Diley Road project By ALAINA FAHY The Eagle-Gazette Staff PICKERINGTON - Pickerington city officials are almost ready to hand off the widening of Diley Road to the Ohio Department of Transportation. Diley Road will be widened from two to five lanes between U.S. 33 and Hill Road North. The goal of the nearly $14 million project is to decrease congestion on Diley Road. Diley Road, which cuts through fast-growing Violet Township, is one of several heavily traveled streets in Fairfield County. Project engineers have to determine right of way, said Brenda Vancleave, staff engineer with the City of Pickerington. Then private utilities, such as electric and cable, must be moved before ODOT can take over. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/020107/CanalWinchester/News/020107-News-297793.html
April 4, 200718 yr Author From ThisWeek Canal Winchester, 3/1/07: MAP Thornton annexation No ruling before June Thursday, March 1, 2007 By ROBERT PASCHEN ThisWeek Staff Writer; ThisWeek Staff Writer Sean Casey contributed to this story. Canal Winchester law director Gene Hollins said last week he doesn't expect the Fairfield County Common Pleas Court to issue another ruling in a long-running annexation case before June. The case involves 227 acres near the intersection of Basil-Western and Hill roads, which both Pickerington and Canal Winchester want to annex into their respective communities because of its proximity to U.S. Route 33 and its potential for development. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/030107/CanalWinchester/News/030107-News-311656.html From ThisWeek Canal Winchester, 3/15/07: Village should seek high-end residences, report indicates Thursday, March 15, 2007 By ROBERT PASCHEN ThisWeek Staff Writer A new report evaluating Canal Winchester's housing stock says the village could support higher-end luxury condominiums and houses, and that the village has a glut of mid-range, single-family homes. The comprehensive evaluation of housing alternatives in Canal Winchester was conducted for the village by the Columbus-based real estate research firm, Vogt Williams & Bowen LLC. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/031507/CanalWinchester/News/031507-News-319142.html From ThisWeek Pickerington, 3/1/07: Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Pickerington to put 5-mill levy on May's ballot (2/11/07) ThisWeek Pickerington: Board to view joint school renderings (2/1/07) ThisWeek Pickerington: PLSD plans levy for May ballot (2/1/07) School board reviewing joint school plan Thursday, March 1, 2007 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer The Pickerington Board of Education will offer guidance this week on the configuration of two new schools the district intends to conjoin. Meeting Monday night, the board viewed three conceptual designs of the elementary and middle schools under development at the intersection of Tollgate and Refugee roads. The schools represent two of the three new buildings funded by a $59.9-million bond issue that voters approved in November. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/030107/Pickerington/News/030107-News-313237.html
April 4, 200718 yr Author From the 3/19/07 Dispatch: CONSTRUCTION ZONE Equity is planning to add office, retail space in Pickerington Monday, March 19, 2007 Mike Pramik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The development company Equity is breaking ground this week on a combination office/retail center that will bring much-needed office space and traffic help to Pickerington. The Shoppes at Stonecreek will include 47,000 square feet of retail space, and the Offices at Stonecreek will result in two new office buildings totaling 16,000 square feet. Equity also is renovating three existing small office buildings at the site, near the intersection of Rt. 256 and Refugee Road. The total development: 81,600 square feet. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/03/19/20070319-E4-01.html From the 3/20/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Bloom, Violet township residents get to look ahead By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA The Eagle-Gazette Staff [email protected] FAIRFIELD COUNTY - Fairfield County residents can take a look at what Violet and Bloom townships will look like and what travel will be like in those communities in about 20 years. The draft 2030 Regional Transportation Plan is available for public review and comment at the Fairfield County District Main Library until April 1. The plan was adopted in May 2004, however, it must be revised to meet federal requirements resulting from legislation enacted in 2005. Full story at http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070320/NEWS01/703200310/1002/rss01 From ThisWeek Pickerington, 3/22/07: Aerosport moving to Canal Pointe Thursday, March 22, 2007 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer Canal Pointe Industry and Commerce Park has gained a new resident. Aerosport Modeling and Design, a prototype- and model-production firm, announced plans last week to construct a 10,000-square-foot facility in Canal Pointe, Canal Winchester's 150-acre industrial park located near the Hill Road-Diley Road interchange on U.S. Route 33. The building, estimated at $1-million, will allow Aerosport to expand its operations from eight to 15 employees. The company presently leases a space on Windmiller Drive in Pickerington. Founded in 1996, Aerosport's client base includes Honda, Scott's and Motorola, as well as many design firms throughout central Ohio and the country. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/032207/Pickerington/News/032207-News-323149.html
April 5, 200718 yr Author From the 3/28/07 Pickerington Times-Sun: ThisWeek Pickerington: Office park annexation vote delayed (3/22/07) Columbus Dispatch: Council debates stand on charter proposal (3/21/07) Pickerington Times-Sun: Township sends city annexation proposal for 3 acres on Wright Road (3/14/07) Pickerington Times-Sun: Township proposes key changes in joint economic agreement (3/7/07) ThisWeek Pickerington: Development deal attacked again (3/1/07) Columbus Dispatch: Pickerington deal ignites referendum drive (1/31/07) Pickerington Times-Sun: Referendum petition drive gathers steam (1/24/07) Council OKs Memorandum of Understanding pact The agreement is designed for economic development districts and includes Pickerington, Violet Township, Lancaster, Canal Winchester and Bloom Township. By DAVID S. OWEN Pickerington City Council voted 7-0 March 20 to join a Memorandum of Understanding agreement for economic development with Violet Township, Lancaster, Canal Winchester and Bloom Township. Also during the meeting, Pickerington Mayor David Shaver appointed two councilmen to put together an information packet to educate city residents about the pros and cons of the current Charter Amendment which will be on the ballot May 8. With the memorandum of understanding the city agreed to enter into offers with the participating government entities to have discussions on coordinating possible Joint Economic Development Districts along the U.S. Route 33 Growth Corridor. By participating in a JEDD the city can establish a way to share tax revenues with the participating municipalities and provide services to the area. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS3-28/3-28_pkcouncil.html
April 6, 200718 yr Author From ThisWeek Canal Winchester, 4/5/07: ThisWeek Pickerington: Trustees approve regional growth plan (3/29/07) ThisWeek Pickerington: Five-way growth agreement adopted by Pickerington Council (3/22/07) Pickerington Times-Sun: Area governments plan meeting about JEDDs (3/21/07) Columbus Dispatch: Violet Township offers tax-sharing (3/12/07) ThisWeek Pickerington: JEDD would include several entities (3/8/07) Pickerington Times-Sun: Violet, Lancaster, Winchester agree to explore JEDDs (2/28/07) Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Communities join to share developments (2/24/07) Council hears first reading of JEDD memorandum Thursday, April 5, 2007 By ROBERT PASCHEN, [email protected] ThisWeek Staff Writer Canal Winchester Village Council heard the first reading Monday of a resolution to enter into a memorandum of understanding to create Joint Economic Development Districts with Lancaster, Pickerington and Violet Township. Two more readings of the memorandum of understanding are scheduled before council votes on the measure. Pickerington, Lancaster and Violet Township have approved the memorandum of understanding. Bloom Township may enter into the agreement as well. Mayor Jeff Miller said the memorandum, "doesn't bind us to" JEDDs. "It says we're interested," he said. "How we divvy up money and responsibilities and services needs to be worked out." Miller told the finance committee that Canal Winchester's 2-percent income tax is the highest among nearby municipalities and thus would be the tax rate used on any future JEDDs. Pickerington's income tax is 1 percent and Lancaster's is 1.75 percent. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/040507/CanalWinchester/News/040507-News-329751.html
April 7, 200718 yr Author From ThisWeek Pickerington, 4/5/07: Packaging company to expand into Pickerington Thursday, April 5, 2007 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer America's largest supplier of rigid containers is making Pickerington its operational hub as it expands into the central Ohio market. Chicago-based Berlin Packaging opened a satellite office in the area in March with intentions of building a distribution facility in the greater Columbus area in the future. "Pickerington is a centrally located area," said Carole Yassen, the company's vice president of marketing services and administration. "We forecast a lot of growth (in central Ohio), and it's close to our customers and niche markets. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/040507/Pickerington/News/040507-News-332122.html
April 13, 200718 yr Author From the 4/11/07 Pickerington Times-Sun: Meetings about memorandum of understanding continue By DAVID S. OWEN In a meeting March 27, officials from Violet Township, Bloom Township, Canal Winchester and Lancaster met to discuss the purpose and benefits of entering into Joint Economic Development Districts together and are looking at the possibility of drafting a master economic agreement to encompass them. The meeting was only one in what is expected to be many meetings that might occur in order to prepare them for future JEDDS in and along the U.S. Route 33 Corridor. In late February the four government entities joined into a Memorandum of Understanding to be able to take advantage of possible future economic growth opportunities along the Route 33 Corridor. In March, Pickerington was invited to participate in the MOU and City Council unanimously voted in favor of joining it. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS4-11/4-11_pkmouagreement.html
April 19, 200718 yr Author From the 4/18/07 Pickerington Times-Sun: Charter amendment backers, opponents debate its merits By DAVID S. OWEN With less than a month to go before the May 8 primary election where a proposed amendment to the city's charter will be before voters, a debate is brewing between supporters and opponents as to whether it is necessary. The amendment to the city's charter is the result of a citizens' initiative petition that was circulated in February and prompted by a proposed economic agreement between the city and Violet Township. The amendment would preserve the city's right to perform annexations in the future regardless of any economic agreements it enters with any municipality, backers said. It also preserves the right of the city to conform its boundaries in the future, if it chooses, regardless of any economic involvement it may have with other municipalities. The proposed economic agreement has not been approved by all parties involved and city and township officials say they now believe it will never be approved or enacted. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS4-18/4-18_pkcharter.html
April 20, 200718 yr Author From ThisWeek Canal Winchester, 4/19/07: Council approves JEDD memorandum Thursday, April 19, 2007 By ROBERT PASCHEN ThisWeek Staff Writer Canal Winchester Village Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday authorizing the mayor to enter into a memorandum of understanding to create Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDDs) with Pickerington, Lancaster, Violet Township and Bloom Township. Officials from Pickerington, Lancaster and the townships have already approved the memorandum of understanding. Mayor Jeff Miller asked council to suspend the rules and approve the memorandum on its second reading. By normal procedures, resolutions go into effect 30 days after the third reading. Miller said approval of the memorandum would show "good faith" on the village's part during an upcoming meeting with private businesses and members of the Route 33 Growth Alliance. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/041907/CanalWinchester/News/041907-News-338815.html
April 26, 200718 yr Author From the 4/25/07 Pickerington Times-Sun: Committee recommends council rescind economic pact By DAVID S. OWEN In a meeting April 16 Pickerington City Council Service Committee members voted in favor of moving the city's proposed Master Economic Development Agreement with Violet Township to the next council meeting's agenda with a request the proposal be rescinded. Committee Chairwoman Cristie Hammond and Councilman Jeff Fix both voted in favor of the action, while Councilman Ted Hackworth abstained. The decision to ask council to rescind the agreement comes in the wake of Violet Township officials sending a revised version of the document to the city in February. City Council had approved the pact before sending it to Violet Township for consideration. If council votes in favor of rescinding the agreement, it will most likely mean the referendum vote on the proposed agreement will not be placed on the ballot in November's general election. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS4-25/4-25_pkservice.html
May 3, 200718 yr Author From the 5/3/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Pickerington working on solution for its commuters By NIKKI G. BANNISTER The Eagle-Gazette Staff [email protected] PICKERINGTON - The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission wants to address Pickerington's population boom, and the city's related roadway congestion on State Route 256 and Interstate 70. The commission and the city of Pickerington will hold a Ridesolutions informational on May 10 for frustrated commuters seeking more gas-saving and driver-friendly methods for commuting to work in Columbus. Ridesolutions is the commission's program designed to offer alternatives to driving alone. The program is currently offering vanpooling - an alternate to carpooling - to 565 commuters in 11 Ohio counties. Full story at http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/NEWS01/705030310/1002/rss01 From ThisWeek Pickerington, 5/3/07: Fee waivers proposed for projects Thursday, May 3, 2007 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer Pickerington is courting a pair of commercial projects by waiving impact fees. City council heard the first reading of two ordinances Tuesday that would exempt new corporate headquarters planned for Tobin, Merritt and Associates and Volunteer Energy Services Inc. from Pickerington's pay-as-you-grow policy. Tobin, Merritt, a health-care recruitment firm, the affiliated patient-referral service Interactive Care Network and the office of chiropractor Christopher Tobin will occupy an 8,000-square-foot building in the Shoppes at Stonecreek, the retail and office complex under development by Equity Inc. on Hill Road, just south of Kohl's. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/050307/Pickerington/News/050307-News-348182.html
May 4, 200718 yr Author From the 5/4/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Annexation issue on ballot in Pickerington By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA The Eagle-Gazette Staff [email protected] PICKERINGTON - Supporters and opponents of Issue 9 are urging Pickerington residents to get out and cast votes on the initiative in the primary election Tuesday. Issue 9 would preserve the city's rights to conform its boundaries and annex land, if passed. But opponents say the issue - if passed - would just end up costing the city a lot of money. "This is a huge issue and the guys who wrote this amendment didn't do their homework," said Jeff Fix, who opposes the issue. Fix, a Pickerington councilman, is heading up the citizens group - Citizens for Lower Taxes - opposing Issue 9. Fix said the issue would prevent the city from participating in Joint Economic Development District agreements with other communities. Full story at http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070504/NEWS01/705040313/1002/rss01
May 10, 200718 yr Author Link contains three tiny, low-quality photos. From ThisWeek Pickerington, 5/10/07: From farm fields to the future U.S. 33 corridor's agrarian past gives way to development Thursday, May 10, 2007 By SEAN CASEY and ROBERT PASCHEN, [email protected], [email protected] ThisWeek Staff Writers Editor's note: The development potential of the U.S. 33 corridor is an issue of increasing importance to towns along the highway and to Franklin and Fairfield counties. For the next three weeks, ThisWeek will examine how formerly agrarian communities -- particularly Canal Winchester and Pickerington -- have become the focus of commercial and residential growth. Today: starting down the road to change. In observance of Violet Township's 150th anniversary, residents congregated at the small, white tabernacle tucked in the tree line on Lockville Road just south of Olde Pickerington Village. That summer afternoon, those in attendance, mostly proprietors of small farms, had come from miles around on foot or by horse for an ecumenical service and carried with them homemade food to share in the potluck lunch that followed. Back then, in 1958, little differentiated the community from the homesteaders who settled in the northwest corner of Fairfield County a century and a half earlier, according to Gary Taylor, president of the Violet Township Historical Society. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/twn/content/pool/exclusives/050807-News-pik-issue9.html
May 18, 200718 yr Author From the 5/17/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Crowd turnout shuts down public hearing Violet Township residents don't want service station built near homes By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA The Eagle-Gazette Staff VIOLET TOWNSHIP - The Violet Township Trustees were overwhelmed when more than 100 people showed up to speak at a public hearing Wednesday night. The public hearing - which was supposed to be a forum for the public to speak for and against a proposed variance - never took place, though many residents briefly voiced their opinions and questioned trustees. "I hate to do this to everyone, but we're overwhelmed by the attendance and suggest we continue (the public hearing) and find a location conducive to all the interested parties," said Violet Township Trustee Gary Weltlich, to a standing-room-only crowd. A developer's proposed plan to build a strip center near the Spring Creek subdivision in Violet Township drew residents from that 87-home development to the meeting. Preliminary drawings of the strip center showed a service station on the proposed commercial property. Spring Creek residents adamantly oppose a gas station being built near their homes. Full story at http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070517/NEWS01/705170315/1002/rss01
May 18, 200718 yr Author Link contains tiny, illegible charts and terrible photos. From ThisWeek Pickerington, 5/17/07: From farm fields to the future Partnerships key to changes along Route 33 corridor Thursday, May 17, 2007 By SEAN CASEY, and ROBERT PASCHEN ThisWeek Staff Writers Editor's note: The development potential of the U.S. 33 corridor is an issue of increasing importance to towns along the highway and to Franklin and Fairfield counties. In this three-part series, ThisWeek will examine how formerly agrarian communities -- particularly Canal Winchester and Pickerington -- have become the focus of commercial and residential growth. Today: the importance of regional partnerships. With long-term economic growth projected for the U.S. Route 33 corridor, leaders in western Fairfield County are implementing three strategies to foster much-needed commercial development. In recent years, local governments have begun building adequate infrastructure to serve new developments, forging regional partnerships and plugging the gaps in existing commercial corridors. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/051707/Pickerington/News/051707-News-354860.html
May 24, 200718 yr Author From the 5/23/07 Pickerington Times-Sun: Spring Creek proposal packs hearing room; action delayed An open house to discuss the proposal has been planned for June 7. By DAVID S. OWEN A public hearing during the Violet Township Board of Trustees meeting last Thursday drew a standing-room only crowd of residents from mostly the Spring Creek subdivision who were there to voice concerns about a proposed development project. The hearing was set up to discuss an application to amend the township-approved Spring Creek Planned District for a proposed project to develop property at the southeast corner of Refugee Road and Milnor Road. The applicant, Ambassador Development LLC, was represented by attorney Richard T. Ricketts who was expected to give a presentation about the proposed development project. As the hearing was about to begin, it became clear a special hearing would need to be scheduled at a larger venue in order to accommodate the more than 100 residents who packed the meeting room and the many additional residents who were lined up outside attempting to get in. Read more at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS5-23/5-23_pktrustees.htm
May 25, 200718 yr Author From ThisWeek Canal Winchester, 5/24/07: Click here to see the map of Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs). TAZs are geography units used by MORPC to track development trends. Each TAZ is assigned a number. (.pdf format). Using information provided by the Ohio Department of Development, MORPC has tracked and forecasted population, household and employment growth for each TAZ from 2005 through 2030. After locating a TAZ on the map, click on the link to open a Excel spreadsheet. Find the TAZ numbers in rows on the left and then move right to locate forecasted growth data for each area. From farm fields to the future Region could double in size in less than 25 years Thursday, May 24, 2007 By SEAN CASEY and ROBERT PASCHEN, ThisWeek Staff Writers Editor's note: The development potential of the U.S. 33 corridor is an issue of increasing importance to towns along the highway and to Franklin and Fairfield counties. In this three-part series, ThisWeek has focused on how formerly agrarian communities -- particularly Canal Winchester and Pickerington -- have become the focus of commercial and residential growth. Today: preparing a marketing strategy. In the next 25 years or less, the population of the greater Canal Winchester and greater Pickerington areas could nearly double, along with the number of jobs. According to projections prepared by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the Ohio Department of Development, the number of residents in Canal Winchester, Pickerington and Violet Township will grow from the 2005 combined total of 48,590 to 77,992 by 2030. Estimates show the number of households increasing from 17,048 to 30,255 over that same period. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/052407/CanalWinchester/News/052407-News-358647.html
June 3, 200718 yr Author From the 6/3/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Developer wants variance granted Residents oppose move that would change restrictions By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA The Eagle-Gazette Staff [email protected] VIOLET TOWNSHIP - A sign that sits near the intersection of Refugee and Spring Creek roads in Violet Township features a picturesque scene of a strip center that will be built in the vacant land behind the sign. But residents in the Spring Creek subdivision, which sits directly behind the vacant 10-acre property - believe the sign is deceiving. "The picture up there is what we envisioned," said Sheila Fuhs, a resident of the subdivision. Fuhs and other residents from the subdivision are upset that the developer of the property - Ambassador Development - wants the Violet Township Trustees to grant a variance that would remove restrictions limiting certain uses of the property, which include gas stations and 24-hour businesses. Full story at http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070603/NEWS01/706030301/1002/rss01
June 8, 200718 yr Author From the Times, 6/6/07: Rt. 33 work healthy for Winchester Village leaders see benefit in the Route 33 Growth Alliance's work. By MARC HASKINS A growing area that has a strong sense of quality of life, Canal Winchester is a village where people will want to live, village Development Director Chris Strayer has said. Though located at the beginning portion of U.S. Route 33, the attributes Strayer named make Canal Winchester a prime location as part of a still-rudimentary initiative put forth by the Route 33 Growth Alliance to bring an unprecedented surge in commerce to the area within the year. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS6-6/6-6_CWrt33.html From ThisWeek Pickerington, 6/7/07: Impact-fee waivers win final approval Thursday, June 7, 2007 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer Pickerington Mayor David Shaver retracted his threat to veto a pair of impact-fee waivers Tuesday night after city council pledged to codify a set of guidelines for such actions. Over concerns of Shaver, council unanimously voted Tuesday to exempt two businesses, Tobin, Merritt & Associates LLC and Volunteer Services Energy Services Inc., from the city's pay-as-you-grow policy for the construction of the companies' new offices. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/060707/Pickerington/News/060707-News-368641.html
June 15, 200718 yr Author Link contains a photo. From the 6/13/07 Pickerington Times-Sun: Residents adamant development plan not be amended By DAVID S. OWEN In an "open house" style meeting Thursday night in the Pickerington Senior Center residents of the Spring Creek Subdivision made it loud and clear to developers and their attorney what they do not want built at the southeast corner of Refugee and Milnor Roads. The meeting, which lasted more than 2 1/2 hours, was scheduled as the result of a public hearing which took place at a Violet Township Board of Trustees meeting May 16. More than 200 residents of the Spring Creek Subdivision came to Thursday's meeting and at first, sat quietly while attorney Rick Ricketts, who is representing the developer, Ambassador Development LLC, explained the issues surrounding the project. Ricketts said the developer would like to revise and amend the Springcreek development plan, created in 1996. The revision would remove some development restrictions from the original agreement. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS6-13/6-13_pkopenhouse.htm
June 22, 200717 yr Author From ThisWeek Pickerington, 6/21/07: Spring Creek subdivision Residents pushing back against variance request Thursday, June 21, 2007 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer Although a commercial developer has pledged to revise an application for zoning variances, most homeowners in Violet Township's Spring Creek subdivision remain totally opposed to the requested changes. At issue are restrictions included in development plans for Spring Creek, a residential-cum-commercial project originally approved by township trustees in 1996. These restrictions were implemented to address concerns of the Fairfield County Regional Planning Commission, the township zoning board and the Chevington Village Civic Association, according to minutes of a June 17, 1996, hearing. In return the developer was granted zoning to build up to 6 units per acre. However, in its application filed April 20, Ambassador requested variances to those restrictions because it claims they have hindered the company's ability to "favorably develop commercial tax base." The request precipitated an immediate backlash, and a May 16 public hearing regarding the application brought on an outpouring of Spring Creek residents concerned the development could negatively affect the neighborhood. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/062107/Pickerington/News/062107-News-375893.html
June 26, 200717 yr Author From Business First of Columbus, 6/25/07: Modular housing builder steps into Lithopolis with big development Business First of Columbus - June 22, 2007 by Kevin Kemper Business First One of the region's first modular home developments is under construction in Lithopolis, and the builder has already attracted a franchisee six weeks after breaking ground in the village. Domus Veram LLC, which builds houses designed and manufactured in a factory, in mid-May started the Grottos of Lithopolis, a 75-acre subdivision off Lithopolis Winchester Road southeast of Columbus. The 39 houses planned for the project will range in size from 3,000 to 7,000 square feet, on lot sizes from 1.7 to 3 acres. They will cost $500,000 to $825,000. Full story at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/06/25/story10.html
June 29, 200717 yr Author Link contains a photo. From ThisWeek Pickerington, 6/28/07: Diley lauded as path to development Thursday, June 28, 2007 ROBERT PASCHEN ThisWeek Staff Writer Development was the word of the day during a June 22 ribbon-cutting for the recently completed $5.3-million Diley Road reconstruction project. Canal Winchester Mayor Jeff Miller said the expanded roadway leads to the future, which he described as one of cooperation involving municipalities, regional economic growth and new village standards for stop lights and street lighting. Violet Township trustee Gary Weltlich said he was "pleased as punch" that the village and the township could work together to complete the 1.2-mile reconstruction of Diley Road. Canal Winchester and Violet Township contributed a combined total of $475,000 in cash for the project, which widened Diley Road from Busey Road south to U.S. Route 33 from two lanes into a five-lane boulevard. The village also sold $2.5-million worth of bonds to cover remaining costs of the project. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/062807/Pickerington/News/062807-News-379444.html
July 6, 200717 yr Author From the 7/4/07 Pickerington Times-Sun: City's growth third fastest in state Numbers do not surprise local government officials By DAVID S. OWEN Population estimates released by the United States Census Bureau Thursday show Pickerington is the third fastest growing city in Ohio. The report, which included population growth of residents not just with the city boundaries, but also those with Pickerington mailing addresses in Violet Township, showed from April 1, 2000, to July 1, 2006, the population grew from 9,978 to 16,575, an increase of 6,597 increase. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS7-4/7-4_pkcensus.html From ThisWeek Pickerington, 7/5/07: Ground broken on retail center Thursday, July 5, 2007 SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer Ground was broken last week on Pickerington's latest commercial project. Backhoes began digging out underground storage tanks at the Exxon gas station, 1400 Hill Road North, where Northstar Realty LLC plans to develop a 20,000-square-foot retail plaza with an outlot. According to Northstar co-owner Jason Zadeh, the complex will house a Starbucks Coffee with a drive-through, FedEx Kinko's, LensCrafters and the Tin Duck Tavern, a neighborhood grill. Rise and Dine, a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, will occupy the outlot. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/070507/Pickerington/News/070507-News-380634.html
July 10, 200717 yr Author From the 7/9/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: PHOTO: Northbound traffic on U.S. 33 near Winchester Road is shown here July 3. E-G photos by Anthony De Young Drivers say bypass, carpooling not enough County traffic is too congested for commuters, Pickerington residents By NIKKI G. BANNISTER The Eagle-Gazette Staff [email protected] FAIRFIELD COUNTY - Bob Mapes has lived in Pickerington - the state's fastest growing city - since 1999, but for the past few years, he has worked as a contractor six months at a time in Iraq, just north of Baghdad. Every time Mapes comes home for his two-week leave, he gets more and more perturbed because of Fairfield County's traffic situation. "I just got back in the states on June 21, and nothing has been done that could be called an improvement," Mapes said. "When I left in December of last year, the traffic, at best, was congested. Now, it's just horrible." Mapes' gripe is the construction of U.S. 33, or the Lancaster Bypass, did nothing for the city of Pickerington. Mapes' calculation is not far from correct. More than 33,000 motorists drive out of Fairfield County daily to work and use I-70, state Route 256 and the bypass to get there. Fairfield County is one of only a few counties in Ohio performing nearly $150 million in roadway improvements on the interstate and two U.S. highways in the county. Yet, road warriors are still experiencing gridlock, backups, $3 per gallon gas prices and headaches. Full story at http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070709/NEWS01/707090301/1002/rss01
July 11, 200717 yr Author From the 7/10/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: New Meijer store slated to open in Canal Winchester sometime next year By NIKKI G. BANNISTER The Eagle-Gazette Staff [email protected] CANAL WINCHESTER - Canal Winchester is one of seven sites Meijer, Inc. has chosen as a spot to open one of its hyperstores - or grand-scale bargain supermarkets - in 2008. Other stores are planned to open in Michigan, Illinois, Grove City and Huber Heights. The projected location of the supermarket is just off the new Hill-Diley Road exchange and will be about 210,000 square feet. Meijer authorities, including its real estate department, selected its stores after researching demand and demographics for many areas. Canal Winchester is one of the fastest-growing communities in the state, so the site was a perfect choice, said Kim Rankin, president of the Canal Winchester Area Chamber of Commerce. Full story at http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/NEWS01/707100308/1002/rss01
July 13, 200717 yr Author From ThisWeek Pickerington, 7/12/07: Spring Creek Rezoning hearing continued to Aug. 2 Thursday, July 12, 2007 SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer A public hearing on a contentious rezoning request in Violet Township will resume next month. Township trustees have scheduled a continuation on a variance application submitted for the Spring Creek development on Refugee Road for 7 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Drive. At issue are restrictions included in development plans for Spring Creek, a residential-cum-commercial project originally approved by township trustees in 1996. In those plans, property owners and the developer committed, among other things, not to build service stations or similar operations, businesses open after 1 a.m. or places selling alcohol for off-premises consumption after 11 p.m. in the commercial section of Spring Creek, which stands at the corner of Milnor and Refugee roads. They also pledged not to request curb cuts along Milnor Road. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/071207/Pickerington/News/071207-News-383933.html
September 16, 200717 yr Restoration rally hopes to put mill back on map Volunteers think site could attract businesses to area in Fairfield County Sunday, September 16, 2007 3:41 AM By Dana Wilson THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH LITHOPOLIS, Ohio -- The massive wooden wheel is missing, and steel beams help correct a sideward lean, but Rock Mill still stands after more than 1 3/4 centuries. That is reason enough to save the circa 1824 gristmill in Fairfield County, say volunteers working to restore it. The six-story building sits on two sandstone cliffs overlooking the upper falls of the Hocking River and an adjacent covered bridge. Too many historic sites are bulldozed and replaced with bronze plaques, so the Fairfield County Historical Parks Commission pledged two years ago to restore the mill, said Dave Fey, the commission's director. Fey and a team of about 20 volunteers held a restoration rally at the mill site yesterday to raise money for and awareness of the project. Visitors toured the building, which is normally closed to the public, and heard tales of its past. Rock Mill is thought to be the largest and oldest surviving mill in Ohio, Fey said. The biggest challenge is raising an estimated $750,000 to restore the site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, said Jan Elzey, a parks volunteer. MORE: http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/09/16/rockmill.ART_ART_09-16-07_B5_UV7TR7M.html?sid=101
January 14, 200817 yr Pickerington wants relief for commuter-clogged roads Monday, January 14, 2008 3:04 AM By Jim Woods THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Tussing and Refugee roads were rural two-lane thoroughfares not so long ago. But as Pickerington grew and Columbus sprawled outward in the 1990s, the two roads between Rt. 256 and Brice Road became overloaded. New Pickerington Mayor Mitch O'Brien would like to see something done to improve the two east-west roads, which are heavily used by commuters. ... More at: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/14/tussing.ART_ART_01-14-08_B1_8D925J3.html?sid=101
January 15, 200817 yr For me, the decay of urban sprawl is shown perfectly in this section of the Central Ohio. The interchanges of Hamilton Road, Brice Road, SR 256, and SR 310 is a perfect example of the "evolution" of urban sprawl. The retail/housing started at Hamilton Road and when traffic congestion/retail glut came they just picked up and moved east one interchange instead of trying to refurbish what they (residents and businesses) already had. SR 256 has much of the retail/housing that used to be on Hamilton and Brice Road. When the congestion becomes too much for this area, it will just move on the SR 310. This may be getting a little off topic, but considering a lightly-used rail line cuts right through this section of Central Ohio, would it be possible to use this for light rail? Maybe relocate what little freight traffic there is out of the corridor and convert it to light rail to help kickstart some sustainable development? The commuters are obviously there as evidence by the Far East Freeway study.
January 15, 200817 yr I'm not sure if the corridor you mention was one of those considered in COTA's original light rail plans. But I can tell you that when COTA ran special express buses between Pickerington (SR256 & Tussing) and downtown Columbus in 2000-2001... during the repaving of I-70... all of the buses were packed. That's four to five buses per day, five days a week, during the in-bound and out-bound rush hour. Each bus held an estimate 45 to 50 passengers (including standees) and the special service, which ran under a special project subsidy from ODOT (via federal highway $$$) for two years. When the paving project was over and the ODOT funding ran out, the service ended. But there was a brief firestorm of phone calls and e-mails from Pickerington area commuters who wanted the service to continue. Sadly, COTA had no choice but to end the service, because most of Pickerington is out of COTA's taxing district (Franklin County), and there wasn't enough political will in Pickerington or the surrounding township to vote themselves into the taxing district.
January 15, 200817 yr I don't recall seeing this corridor in a COTA plan, but it does connect some large residential areas and areas ripe for redevelopment with downtown Columbus. I also don't remember seeing any modal options (light rail, express bus, etc) outlined in the Far East Freeway study, which was not a surprise. If this area is looked at again, I hope this line gets some serious consideration for something other than limited freight.
January 15, 200817 yr I would outline what you think ought to be done in that area and send a letter to Bill Lhoita, the CEO of COTA and to Bob Lawler at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Council. I would also copy ODOT Director James Beasley on the letter as well, asking all three for a response. Given what was written in the Dispatch article this morning, I have to believe they saw it, or at least their media people did. I would reference that in your letter. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to send a letter to the editor of the Columbus Dispatch.
April 21, 200916 yr Furious Fairfield County residents protest plan to demolish historic grandstand Monday, April 20, 2009 - 3:05 AM By Mary Beth Lane, The Columbus Dispatch LANCASTER, Ohio -- The weathered, white clapboard grandstand has stood on the Fairfield County Fairgrounds for a century. Now, many in the community are shocked and infuriated that the fair board plans to tear it down. "I was appalled," said Lancaster-area resident Janice Siefert, 51. She treasures her collection of snapshots showing herself as a girl and, later, her own children, posing in the grandstand. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/04/20/nograndstand.ART_ART_04-20-09_B1_MVDJM7S.html?sid=101
June 21, 200915 yr Lancaster group raises $100,000 to save fairgrounds grandstand Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 11:28 AM By Mary Beth Lane, The Columbus Dispatch LANCASTER, Ohio -- The weathered, white clapboard grandstand that has stood on the Fairfield County Fairgrounds for a century will be spared from demolition after a citizens group raised about $100,000 to save it. Its damaged roof will be repaired and aging boards will be replaced, Fair Manager Dave Benson said today. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/17/fairgrandstand.html
January 18, 201015 yr Fairfield County hires new development chief Business First of Columbus Tuesday, January 12, 2010 Fairfield County has begun the new year with a new economic development director it plucked from the Springfield area. Shane Farnsworth, 37, stepped into the county development post last week. Before coming to Fairfield County, he spent 10 years as the director of planning and economic development for Clark County, about 70 miles west. He replaces Bill Arnett, who left the job in June. As development chief for the county, which has about 142,000 residents, Farnsworth oversees the two-year-old Fairfield 33 Development Alliance, a public-private partnership that is in the midst of a five-year marketing campaign aimed at attracting businesses to the corridor and helping existing companies expand. Full article at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/01/11/daily16.html?surround=lfn
February 14, 201015 yr BREMEN'S SUCCESS STORY Fairfield County town's revitalization an example of what local volunteers' efforts can accomplish Sunday, February 7, 2010 - 3:29 AM By Mary Beth Lane, The Columbus Dispatch BREMEN, Ohio -- The bustle in Bremen seems outsized to the population of this rural village in southeastern Fairfield County. The community of 1,250 hums with activities year-round, such as the old-fashioned Christmas festival and parade, a home and garden tour, and the seasonal farmer's market downtown. Saturday mornings, Amish farmers from the surrounding countryside pull up downtown and fasten their horse-drawn buggies to the hitching rack outside Rushcreek Feed & Supply Co. On Saturday nights, cars and pickup trucks jam the parking lot outside the Liberty Bell Restaurant as patrons stream inside for live country music. A wing just added to the decade-old local museum and community center is scheduled to be dedicated Feb. 25. This month, the museum is hosting its second Smithsonian Institution exhibit in two years, a source of pride for villagers. Full article at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/02/07/bremen.ART_ART_02-07-10_B1_EJGH7OE.html?sid=101
March 17, 201015 yr $35 million medical center to open Tuesday Facility serves area in need of service Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 2:51 AM By Mary Beth Lane THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Diley Ridge Medical Center, a new emergency-care and medical-office development built to serve patients in growing northwestern Fairfield County, opens Tuesday. The $35 million center at 7911 Diley Rd. in Canal Winchester is a collaboration between Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster and Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus. Two connected buildings include a 24-hour emergency center, medical offices and diagnostic services including mammography, MRI, CT scan and ultrasound imaging. Included is a Nationwide Children's Hospital "Close to Home" pediatric urgent-care center. Diley Ridge will fill a geographic gap for residents with medical emergencies who now must go to either Lancaster or Columbus, hospital executives said. FULL ARTICLE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/03/13/35-million-medical-center-to-open-tuesday.html?sid=101
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