Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Development is proposing to establish an incentive district under Section 5709.40 (C) of the Ohio Revised Code. The proposed district includes portions of the Harrison West neighborhood northwest of downtown Columbus. One of the prerequisites for the creation of an incentive district is adoption, by the City Council, of a written economic development plan for the incentive district. The Harrison West Economic Development Plan has been prepared to enable the creation of the proposed incentive district in Harrison West and is the subject of this ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To adopt the Harrison West Economic Development Plan as a guide for future economic development and in support of a tax increment financing district; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Section 5709.40 of the Ohio Revised Code authorizes the legislative authority of a municipal corporation to create, by ordinance, an incentive district and declare improvements within that district to be of public purpose; and
WHEREAS, an incentive district must contain distress characteristics which may be defined as inadequate public infrastructure, as evidenced by a written economic development plan; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Division of the Department of Development has studied the Harrison West neighborhood and prepared the Harrison West Economic Development Plan to facilitate the creation of an incentive district in Harrison West; and
WHEREAS, the recommendations contained in the Harrison West Economic Development Plan address the impacts of growth, infrastructure needs, and the insufficiency of neighborhood parkland; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Development Department in that it is immediately necessary to adopt the Harrison West Economic Development Plan as a necessary component in the creation of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District and so that site clean up and the construction of roadways can commence prior to the start of construction for housing; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Harrison West Economic Development Plan is hereby adopted by this Council.
Section 2. That the Department of Development and all departments and divisions of the City administration are hereby authorized and directed to use the Harrison West Economic Development Plan to initiate projects that will implement the provisions of the plan, including the establishment of a tax increment financing district to provide financing for public infrastructure improvements.
Section 3. That copies of the Harrison West Economic Development Plan shall be kept on file in the Department of Development, Planning Division.
Section 4. That for 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.