Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Pursuant to ordinance No. 0390-2006, passed by Columbus City Council on March 1, 2006, the Columbus Department of Development applied for and was awarded a Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant of $174,803.00 from the Ohio Department of Development to perform Phase 2 environmental assessment work at the former B & T Metals site. The State Controlling Board approved the grant application at its March 12, 2007, meeting.
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize an agreement between the Columbus Department of Development and the Ohio Department of Development to receive and administer the grant and to authorize developers of site, Brick Investment Corp. to apply the grant funding toward the project site.
The former B & T Metals site is located at 435 W. Town Street in Franklinton. The site, which has been vacant for a number of years, was formerly a manufacturing facility. It was acquired by Brick Investments in 2005, where the company plans to clean up the site and invest approximately $15-20 million to develop 134 condominium units with a small arts theatre, restaurant and office space.
With input from Franklinton area residents, the site received a zoning variance in January 2006, to accommodate the proposed development. To proceed with the development, the Phase 2 environmental assessment will be required to determine the extent and total cost of clean up required before actual clean up and construction can begin. Brick Investments has retained Hull and Associates to conduct the Phase 2 environmental assessment. This legislation authorizes receiving and administering the state grant funding.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this legislation is provided by a Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant from the Ohio Department of Development in the amount of $174,803.00.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Development to receive and administer Clean Ohio Assistant Grant funds in an amount of $174,803.00; to authorize the appropriation of $174,803.00 from the General Government Grant Fund to the Department of Development; to authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with Brick Investment Corp. to apply said grant funding for a Phase 2 environmental assessment at the former B & T Metals site; to authorize the expenditure of $174,803.00 from the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($174,803.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio Clean Ohio Program will award $40 million per year, for five years, to communities throughout Ohio for the purpose of clean up and redevelopment of contaminated or abandoned properties known as "brownfields"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus contains brownfield properties which may qualify for Clean Ohio clean up and redevelopment grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has been involved with brownfield redevelopment since 1999 through its administration of the Columbus Brownfield Redevelopment Program and its associated task force; and
WHEREAS, Clean Ohio Assistance grant funding will greatly compliment the efforts of the Columbus Department of Development in helping to clean up and redevelop brownfield properties in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has identified a brownfield property, which is eligible for a Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant, at the former B & T Metals site at 435 W. Town Street where environmental assessment and clean up are required before redevelopment can occur; and
WHEREAS, the City was successful in its application to the State of Ohio for a Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant of $174,803.00 to perform a Phase 2 environmental assessment at the former B & T Metals site; and
WHEREAS, Agreements with the Ohio Department of Development and Brick Investment Corp. are required in order for the City to receive, administer and apply the Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant of $174,803.00, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to enter into agreements with the Ohio Department of Development and Brick Investment Corp. for Clean Ohio assistance funding in order to commence the Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant process immediately, all for the preservation of public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of the Columbus Department of Development is authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Development to receive and administer Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant funds in the amount of $174,803.00 for environmental clean up at the former B & T Metals site at 435 W. Town Street.
Section 2. That the sum of $174,803.00 be and is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220 and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007, to the Department of Development, Economic Development Division, Division No. 44-02, Grant 447021, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336, OCA Code 447021.
Section 3. That the Director of the Columbus Department of Development is authorized to enter into an agreement with Brick Investments Corp. in the amount of $174,803.00 for a Phase 2 environmental assessment at the former B & T Metals site.
Section 4. That for the purpose stated in Section 3, the expenditure of $174,803.00 is hereby authorized from the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, Grant No. 447021, Department of Development, Economic Development Division, Division No. 44-02, Object Level Three, 3336, OCA Code 447021.
Section 5. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, the 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.