Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of the ordinance is to give the Director of the Department of Development the authority to enter into an agreement of understanding with Campus Partners for Community and Urban Redevelopment (Campus Partners) in conjunction with a Clean Ohio Program Round 4 grant application of up to $3 million and to authorize the application the Department of Development intends to submit to the Ohio Department of Development for site cleanup at the former Columbus Coated Fabrics site at Grant and Fifth Avenues. An agreement of understanding, along with this ordinance, is required for the application of Clean Ohio grant funds, which is anticipated for completion and posting of public notice before April 2, 2007.
The former Columbus Coated Fabrics site is 17.5 acres and located in the Weinland Park Neighborhood of Columbus. Campus Partners is proposing to work with various development interests to construct approximately 500 residential units at the site contingent on the award of a $3 million Clean Ohio grant for remediation. Both the Columbus Department of Development and Campus Partners have worked extensively with Weinland Park residents to ensure the proposed development complements the neighborhood and area plans.
The agreement of understanding sets forth the essential roles of both Campus Partners and the Columbus Department of Development in undertaking site cleanup and subsequent redevelopment. The agreement of understanding does not subject the City to liability for any site contamination which may exist at or near the redevelopment site.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency to meet the Clean Ohio Program Round 4 grant application deadline of April 2, 2007.
FISCAL IMPACT: There are no costs to the City of Columbus associated with applying for Clean Ohio Round 4 grant funding beyond the Columbus Department of Development's budget for personal service consulting fees. If the application is approved by the State, the City of Columbus may receive up to $3 million in grant funding for this site.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement of understanding with Campus Partners for Community and Urban Redevelopment for the redevelopment of the former Columbus Coated Fabrics site at Grant and Fifth Avenues; to authorize the associated application for Round 4 grant funding to the Ohio Department of Development for site cleanup under the Clean Ohio Program; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio, Clean Ohio Program will award $40 million per year, for five years, to communities throughout Ohio for the purpose of cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated or abandoned properties known as "brownfields"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus contains brownfield properties which may qualify for Clean Ohio cleanup and redevelopment grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has been involved with brownfield redevelopment since 1999 through its administration of the Columbus Brownfields Redevelopment Program and its associated task force; and
WHEREAS, Clean Ohio grant funding will greatly complement the efforts of the Columbus Department of Development in helping to cleanup and redevelop brownfield properties in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has identified a brownfield property which may be eligible for Clean Ohio Program Round 4 grant funding at the site known as the former Columbus Coated Fabrics site at Grant and Fifth Avenues and that Campus Partners has agreed to partner with the City to clean up and redevelop the site for residential use; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of City Council in that it is immediately necessary to express its support for the application described herein for the preservation of 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 Development is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an agreement of understanding with Campus Partners for Community and Urban Redevelopment for the redevelopment of the former Columbus Coated Fabrics site at Grant and Fifth Avenues and is authorized to submit an associated application for Round 4 grant funding to the Ohio Department of Development for site cleanup under the Clean Ohio Program.
Section 2. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its adoption and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.