Explanation
The City currently owns a certain property at the corner of Olentangy River Road and Third Avenue. Approximately 4.8 acres of the site houses the present operations of the Police Heliport. The City's heliport operations are being moving to a new heliport facility that is projected to open Spring 2009. The City has received inquiries regarding the availability of the current heliport site for purchase to develop it for a commercial use. Such inquiries are time sensitive and require a City response within specified time frames. The following legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to respond to the interested parties and to proceed with negotiations, waive the land review commission requirements of Chapter 328 and Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes (1959) Revised, and declare an emergency.
Fiscal Impact: N/A
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow the City to meet its obligation to meet time sensitive response deadlines contingent upon the passage of this ordinance on September 17, 2007.
Title
To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to entertain discussions and enter into negotiations with interested parties with respect to the sale of approximately 4.8 acres of City owned real property known as the Police Heliport; to waive the land review commission requirements of Columbus City Codes (1959) Revised; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus owns approximately 4.8 acres currently operating as the Columbus Police heliport; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Finance and Management has received time sensitive inquiries from private parties interested in redeveloping the site for commercial use that require further discusssion and negotiation to determine what course of action is in the best interest of the City; and
WHEREAS, any agreement for sale of the property shall require approval by Council ordinance; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City, in that it is necessary to immediately authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into discussions and negotiations to respond to time sensitive inquiries, 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 the Director of the Department of Finance and Management be authorized to enter into discussions and negotiations regarding the potential sale of the aproximately 4.8 acres real property.
Section 2. That this Council has detemined that it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive and does hereby waive the requirements of Columbus City Codes (1959) Revised, Chapter 328 (land review commission) and that portion of Chapter 329 that pertains to land review commission requirements.
Section 3. 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.