Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The Annexation Agreement between the city of Columbus, village of New Albany, and Plain Township seeks to create a 1,200-acre metropolitan park located in Northeast Franklin County. Initial land acquisition and development costs are shared by the agreement signatories and the Columbus-Franklin County Metropolitan Park District.
The agreement term is 15 years with potential automatic renewals in five-year increments. It is consistent with the Rocky Fork Blacklick Accord land use plan. The agreement sets aside Columbus growth zones (east, west, and park zone) to annex to the city under the provisions of the Expedited Procedure No. 1. It sets aside New Albany growth zone for annexation to the village under the provisions of the Expedited Procedure No. 2.
Utility services will only be provided in the Park Zone to support development consistent with the Land Use Plan; city will not permit taps in this zone for five years beginning when the first sanitary sewer line is constructed or until 1,000 acres have been purchased for the metro park, whichever occurs first. Plain Township is to be reimbursed for tax abatements granted in City Growth Zone East or Village Growth Zone.
Under the agreement, the Rocky Fork Blacklick Accord Panel will be expanded to nine members to include Township representation (two representatives from each jurisdiction and 3 at-large mutually agreed to).
A separate park development agreement will follow this ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No funds are allocated by this ordinance. However, future park development is to be funded with $7.5 million provided by the city of Columbus as follows: $5 million for the city's share of funding park development plus $2.5 million for Plain Township's share of funding park development (these funds are provided in exchange for the Township's agreement regarding reconfiguration of township-city boundaries with annexation petitions). City funds are to be provided via the Tax Increment Financing Districts established in the Northeast growth area.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Development Department to sign the Annexation Agreement between the city of Columbus, village of New Albany, and Plain Township and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the creation of a 1,200-acre metropolitan park district will benefit Columbus residents in Northeast Franklin County and is in the best interest of the City as a whole; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the creation of such park district, the city of Columbus, the village of New Albany, and Plain Township wish to establish coordinated development and annexation objectives, requirements, restrictions, standards and procedures within Northeast Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, Columbus has pursued this Annexation Agreement as part of a larger multi-jurisdictional cooperative relationship with New Albany and Plain Township;
WHEREAS an emergency exist in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary for the Director of the Development Department to sign the Annexation Agreement for the immediate preservation of public health, peace, safety and welfare,
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into an Annexation Agreement on behalf of the city of Columbus with the village of New Albany and Plain Township, and to execute the form of that agreement that is presently on file with the City Clerk or a substantially identical agreement that the City Attorney certifies to the Director contains no material deviation from the agreement on file with the City Clerk.
Section 2. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is herby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.