Explanation
Background:
Pursuant to Ordinance Nos. 1730-2019, 1492-2021, 2126-2022, 2986-2024, Crew SC Stadium Company, LLC, Crew SC Development Company, LLC, Crew SC Training Company, LLC, the Board of County Commissioners of Franklin County, Ohio, the Confluence Community Authority (the “Authority”), and the City of Columbus, Ohio (the “City”) entered into and then subsequently entered into and amended the Development Agreement originally dated July 3, 2019 (the “Original EDA”) concerning what became ScottsMiracle-Gro Field and the Astor Park development generally bounded by Interstate 670 to the north, State Route 315 to the west, CSX Transportation railroad tracks to the east, and Nationwide Boulevard to the south (collectively, the “Initial Property”). Prior to the Authority being added as a party by a subsequent amendment, the City committed in the Original EDA to form a new community authority pursuant to R.C. Chapter 349 to support the redevelopment of the Initial Property. On August 9, 2019, a Petition for the Organization of the Confluence Community Authority was submitted by Crew SC Stadium Company, LLC to the Clerk of City Council. By Resolution Nos. 0230X-2019 and 0252X-2019, City Council, as the “organizational board of commissioners” for all purposes of R.C Chapter 349, established the Authority and the Authority’s new community district (the “District”) over the Initial Property following prior notices and a public hearing held on September 16, 2019.
The City desires to add territory to the District that encompasses the City’s approximately 19.81-acre McCoy Park on the non-contiguous portion of Franklin County Auditor Parcel No. 010-095231 that is completely west of I-71 at 600 Stimmel Road plus approximately 10.04 acres consisting of the adjacent Franklin County Auditor Parcel Nos. 010-095233, 010-095234, and 425-295576 also owned by the City (collectively, the “Additional Property”). The land but no improvements of the Additional Property will be leased from the City to the Authority who will then lease it to the ownership group of a National Women’s Soccer League team for their new training facility. As authorized by Ordinance No. 1112-2026, on or about May 11, 2026, the City submitted to the Clerk of City Council a written consent for the Additional Property pursuant to R.C. Section 349.03 (the “Consent”). By this Resolution, City Council, as the aforesaid organizational board of commissioners described and required by R.C. Chapter 349, will determine the sufficiency of the Consent, set a public hearing date on the Consent, and authorize notices for such hearing. Furthermore, by this resolution, City Council authorizes the Director of the Department of Development, or his or her authorized designee, to hold the required hearing and to forthwith certify to City Council that the hearing was held as advertised.
Fiscal Impact: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To determine that the written consent providing for the addition of certain property to the Confluence Community Authority’s new community district and that is owned or controlled by City of Columbus, Ohio is sufficient and complies with the requirements of Chapter 349 of the Ohio Revised Code; to set the time and place for a public hearing on such consent; and to authorize the notices of such public hearing by publication in a newspaper of general circulation for three consecutive weeks, or as provided in Ohio Revised Code Section 7.16. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance Nos. 1730-2019, 1492-2021, 2126-2022, 2986-2024, Crew SC Stadium Company, LLC, Crew SC Development Company, LLC, Crew SC Training Company, LLC, the Board of County Commissioners of Franklin County, Ohio, the Confluence Community Authority (the “Authority”), and the City of Columbus, Ohio (the “City”) subsequently entered into and amended the Development Agreement originally dated July 3, 2019 (the “Original EDA”) for the redevelopment of an approximately 28.6-acre site generally bounded by Interstate 670 to the north, State Route 315 to the west, CSX Transportation railroad tracks to the east, and Nationwide Boulevard to the south (collectively, the “Initial Property” as depicted on Exhibit A attached hereto) that became ScottsMiracle-Gro Field and the Astor Park development; and
WHEREAS, prior to the Authority being added as a party by a subsequent amendment, the City agreed in the Original EDA to support the formation of a new community authority pursuant to R.C. Chapter 349 to support the redevelopment of the Initial Property by including the Initial Property in the Authority’s new community district (the “District”); and
WHEREAS, a Petition for the Organization of the Confluence Community Authority under R.C. Chapter 349 (the “Petition”) was submitted by Crew SC Stadium Company, LLC to the Clerk of City Council on August 9, 2019; and
WHEREAS, City Council, as the “organizational board of commissioners” within the meaning of R.C. Section 349.01(F), adopted Resolution No. 0230X-2019 to determine that the Petition complied as to form and substance with the requirements of R.C. Section 349.03(A), fixed the time and place for a hearing on the establishment of the Authority and the District, and authorized notices for such hearing, which was held on September 16, 2019; and
WHEREAS, City Council adopted Resolution No. 0252X-2019 to determine that the Authority and its District would be conducive to the public health, safety, convenience and welfare and that it was intended to result in the development of a new community as described in R.C. Chapter 349, and to declare the Authority is organized as a body corporate and politic in the State of Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the Petition describes the initial boundaries of the District, which are coextensive with the Initial Property, and contemplates the addition of property to the territory of the District from time to time pursuant to R.C. Section 349.03(B); and
WHEREAS, R.C. Section 349.03(B) also authorizes City Council to add property to the Authority’s District, with the consent of the owner of the property, so long as the developer who submitted the Petition does not file a written objection; and
WHEREAS, the City owns real property that encompasses the City’s approximately 19.81-acre McCoy Park on the non-contiguous portion of Franklin County Auditor Parcel No. 010-095231 that is completely west of I-71 at 600 Stimmel Road plus approximately 10.04 acres consisting of the adjacent Franklin County Auditor Parcel Nos. 010-095233, 010-095234, and 425-295576 also owned by the City (as depicted on Exhibit A and Exhibit B attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, collectively, the “Additional Property”); and
WHEREAS, the land but no improvements of the Additional Property will be leased from the City to the Authority who will then lease it to the ownership group of a National Women’s Soccer League team for their new training facility; and
WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. 1112-2026, the City was authorized to file the written consent (the “Consent”) with the Clerk of City Council on or about May 11, 2026 to request that the Additional Property be added to the District under R.C. Section 349.03(B); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to R.C. Section 349.03(A), City Council, as the organizational board of commissioners for the Consent, will determine that the Consent is sufficient and in compliance with the required statutory requirements, and herein will fix a time and place for a public hearing on the Consent and cause notice of such hearing as required by statute; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is necessary to make the legislative determinations regarding the sufficiency of the Consent in order to provide notice in a newspaper of general circulation for three weeks prior to a public hearing, or as provided in R.C. Section 7.16, and set the public hearing date within 30-45 days of the date after the Consent was filed in accordance with the requirements of R.C. Chapter 349; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That this City Council acknowledges and determines that it is the “organizational board of commissioners” for all purposes of Chapter 349 of the Ohio Revised Code; that this City Council has examined the Consent and finds and determines that the Consent complies with the requirements of Section 349.03 of the Ohio Revised Code as to form and substance.
SECTION 2. That this City Council hereby ratifies any prior Consent filed with the Clerk of City Council on behalf of the Director of the Department of Development and/or the Recreation and Park Director, or each’s designee, following each of their endorsements, and that this City Council consents to the inclusion of the Additional Property.
SECTION 3. That the Director of the Department of Development, or his or her duly authorized representative, shall hold a public hearing on the Consent to expand the District to include the Additional Property, and such hearing shall be held at 4:30 p.m. on June 24, 2026, in the Michael B. Coleman Government Center Parking Garage Conference Room, 141 N. Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. That the Director of the Department of Development, or his or her duly authorized representative, shall certify to City Council in writing that the hearing was held as advertised.
SECTION 4. That the City Attorney, Clerk of City Council, the Director of the Department of Development, or any of them individually or their designees, shall arrange for notice of the public hearing by publication once each week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Franklin County pursuant to Section 349.03(A) of the Ohio Revised Code, or as provided in R.C. Section 7.16; provided that each such publication shall appear prior to the public hearing described herein.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.