Explanation
Background: The goal of a Community Reinvestment Area is neighborhood revitalization and stabilization.
This Ordinance amends Ordinance 1735-2012, passed July 30, 2012, which amended Ordinance 1292-2012, passed June 18, 2012, that created the Short North Community Reinvestment Area in order to expand the area's boundaries to provide for real property tax exemptions for additional residentially and commercially zoned and used parcels within the area.
This legislation is presented as an emergency to allow projects awaiting the benefits of the legislation to begin.
Fiscal Impact: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To amend Ordinance 1735-2012 for the purpose of expanding the Short North Community Reinvestment Area to provide for real property tax exemptions for additional residentially and commercially zoned and used parcels within the area and to authorize real property tax exemptions as established in the Ohio Revised Code; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the council of the City of Columbus (hereinafter "Council") desires to pursue reasonable and legitimate incentive measures to assist and encourage development in specific areas of the City of Columbus that have not enjoyed benefit of reinvestment from remodeling or new construction; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1698-78, approved August 3, 1978, authorized the Department of Development to carry out a Community Reinvestment Program, pursuant to Sections 3735.65 to 3735.70 of the Ohio Revised Code, and approved certain administrative procedures for the program; and
WHEREAS, the Second and High Community Reinvestment Area created by Ordinance 1685-2009 and the Hubbard and High Community Reinvestment Area created by Ordinance 1153-2009 are officially absorbed into the Short North Community Reinvestment Area; and
WHEREAS, a survey of housing (see Exhibit A) and a list of parcels (Exhibit C) as required by Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 3735.66 has been prepared and included in this proposed amended Short North Community Reinvestment Area; and
WHEREAS, the continued remodeling of existing buildings for residential use and construction of new residential and commercial structures in this amended Short North Community Reinvestment Area would serve to encourage economic stability and maintain real property values, and generate new employment opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the remodeling of existing buildings for residential use and the construction of new residential and commercial structures in this amended Short North Community Reinvestment Area constitutes a public purpose for which real property exemptions may be granted; and
WHEREAS, the proposal is a public/private partnership intended to promote and expand conforming uses in the designated area, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Development Department in that it is immediately necessary to amend said Ordinances to continue to authorize real property tax exemptions as established in Sections 3735.65 to 3735.70 of the Ohio Revised Code to allow projects awaiting the benefits of the legislation to begin, thereby preserving the public health, property, peace, safety, and welfare, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Section 1 of Ordinance 1735-2012 is hereby amended to read as follows.
Section 1. The area depicted in Exhibit B (as revised) constitutes an area in which housing facilities or structures of historical significance are located.
SECTION 2. That Section 2 of Ordinance 1735-2012 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 2. Pursuant to ORC Section 3735.66, The Short North Community Reinvestment Area boundary is hereby established in the following described area:
North: Bounded by Fifth Avenue from Neil Avenue to Pearl Alley including north and south side parcels; continuing west from Pearl Alley to Fourth Street but excluding those parcels included in the Weinland Park Community Reinvestment Area
West: Bounded by Neil Avenue (excluding properties on the west side of Neil Avenue)
South: Bounded by Interstate 670
East: Bounded by Fourth Street but excluding those parcels included in the Jeffrey Residential Community Reinvestment Area
The Community Reinvestment Area is approximately depicted as the area on the map marked Exhibit B (as revised), attached to this Ordinance; on the list of parcel numbers marked Exhibit C (as revised), and by this reference incorporated herein.
Only properties consistent with the applicable zoning regulations and variances thereto within the designated Community Reinvestment Area will be eligible for exemptions under this Program. For purposes of ORC Sections 3735.65 to 3735.70, rental housing, including without limitation rental housing located in a structure containing multiple residential housing units, is classified as residential.
SECTION 3. That the Second and High Community Reinvestment Area created by Ordinance 1685-2009 and the Hubbard and High Community Reinvestment Area created by Ordinance 1153-2009 are officially absorbed into the Short North Community Reinvestment Area.
SECTION 4. That this Council further hereby authorizes and directs the Mayor, the Clerk of Council, the Director of Development, or other appropriate officers of the City to prepare and sign all agreements and instruments and to take any other actions as may be appropriate to implement this Ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.