Explanation
Background:
The City of Columbus ("City"), the Franklin County Commissioners ("County"), the Columbus Zoological Park Association ("Zoo"), and the State of Ohio, Department of Transportation ("ODOT") desire to relocate a section of State Route 750 (Powell Road) north of the Zoo. The proposed highway improvement project will involve an exchange of lands currently held by the ODOT and lands jointly held by the City and the County for the use and benefit of the Columbus Zoo. ODOT will vacate the existing Powell Road between State Route 257 and the easternmost boundary of the Zoo property. The vacation will allow the Zoo operations to connect to property owned jointly by the City and County lying north of Powell Road which was purchased for Zoo operations. The City and County property held for the use and benefit of the Zoo and deemed necessary to support the proposed highway improvement will be donated to the ODOT in exchange for the section of Powell road to be vacated. This legislation authorizes the Zoo to represent the City for the purposes of making certain engineering and design decisions as to the State Route 750 realignment and to recommend to the City and County right of way to dedicate to ODOT for the relocated road.
Title
To authorize the Columbus Zoological Park Association, Inc. to represent the City in planning with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the purposes of making certain engineering and design decisions as to the State Route 750 realignment.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus ("City"), the Franklin County Commissioners ("County"), the Columbus Zoological Park Association ("Zoo"), and the State of Ohio, Department of Transportation ("ODOT") desire to relocate a section of State Route 750 (Powell Road); and
WHEREAS, the proposed highway improvement project will involve an exchange of lands currently held by the ODOT ( State Route 750 or Powell Road) and lands jointly held by the City and the County for the use and benefit of the Zoo; and
WHEREAS, upon completion of the relocation of Powell Road, ODOT will vacate a portion of the existing Powell Road to the City and the County which will connect to property north of Powell purchased for use by the Zoo as part of the Zoo's long range plans; and
WHEREAS, ODOT, has requested the City and the County to designate the Zoo as their representative for purposes of planning the alignment and access points through the City/County property currently used for Zoo operations; and
WHEREAS, the Zoo is the best entity to work with ODOT to determine the benefits and impacts on the Zoo's operations of the proposed design of the relocated road and to make recommendations to the City and County to convey the needed right of way; now, therefore:
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That this Council hereby declares that the Columbus Zoological Park Association, Inc. is authorized to represent of the City of Columbus for purposes of making all necessary project related decisions regarding the engineering aspects and design features of the above referenced proposed highway improvements, and to recommend to the City and County the transfer of such real property as is necessary for the construction and operation of the relocated Powell Road which conveyance shall be subject to future ordinances of City Council and Resolutions of the County Commissioners.
Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.