Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus currently owns the property formerly known as the Northland Mall site located on the southeast corner of Morse and Karl Roads. The Columbus Urban Growth Corporation (CUGC) leases the property from the City of Columbus for redevelopment purposes. The property owners and tenants on Morse Road are interested in forming a Special Improvement District (SID) to assess themselves for enhanced maintenance of the Morse Road right of way as set forth in the proposed service plan attached to the petition to create the SID. State law requires property owners to sign a petition to create and implement a SID. An assessment will be levied on property within the Morse Road SID boundaries upon the creation of the SID. Under the lease with CUGC, CUGC is responsible for the payment of special assessments. Consequently it would be appropriate for the City to authorize CUGC to sign the petition on behalf of the City as the fee owner of the property.
This legislation will authorize CUGC to sign petitions to create and implement the Morse Road Special Improvement District on behalf of, and as agent for the City as owner of the property at the former Northland Mall site.
Emergency action is requested to allow the timely implementation of the Morse Road SID.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Columbus Urban Growth Corporation, on behalf of and as agent for the City as the fee owner of the property at the former Northland Mall site, to sign a petition for the creation and implementation of the Morse Road Special Improvement District; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus currently owns the property formerly known as the Northland Mall site; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Urban Growth Corporation, "CUGC", leases the former Northland Mall property from the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, property owners along Morse Road desire to create the Morse Road Special Improvement District, the "Morse Road SID", for the purposes of providing enhanced maintenance to the Morse Road right of way and such other services as set forth in the petition to create the Morse Road Special Improvement District, the "Petition"; and
WHEREAS, state law requires that property owners sign a petition to create and implement Special Improvement Districts under Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised Code; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus desires to authorize CUGC, as its agent, to sign the Petition for the creation and implementation of the Morse Road SID; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize CUGC to sign the Petition on behalf of and as agent for City as the fee owner of the land at the former Northland Mall site, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That CUGC is hereby authorized to sign the Petition, in the form of the Petition attached hereto as Exhibit A, on behalf of and as agent for the City as the fee owner of the property formerly known as the Northland Mall site as such property is described in the Petition.
Section 2. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby 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.