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File #: 1361-2008    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 8/20/2008 In control: Public Service & Transportation Committee
On agenda: 9/8/2008 Final action: 9/10/2008
Title: To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to execute those documents required to transfer an unimproved portion of Lauffer Road right of way to the State of Ohio; to waive the competitive bidding provisions and the Land Review Commission requirements of Columbus City Codes to the extent that they may apply to this transfer; and to declare an emergency.
Explanation

1. BACKGROUND
In 1966, as a part of the Interstate Route 270 construction, the State of Ohio, Department of Transportation (the "State"), found it necessary to purchase property to relocate portions of Franklin County Roads 75 and 83 and to construct Service Roads numbers 1, 2, 3 and 6. In 1971 the State transferred these lands to the Board of County Commissioners of Franklin County, Ohio (the "County") for use and maintenance for roadway purposes. The deed which transferred these rights-of-way to the County contains a reversionary clause that requires they be immediately returned to the State should they ever cease to be used and maintained for roadway purposes. In 1977 an area including these rights of way was annexed from the County into the City of Columbus. By operation of law arising from the annexation the City succeeded to ownership of the rights of way. In accordance with the reversionary clause, the State recently requested that the City return an unimproved portion of Service Road 3, a service road south of Schrock Road and east of Cleveland Avenue, now known as Lauffer Road to them. After the City transfers this unimproved portion of Lauffer Road to the State they in turn intend to transfer it to an abutting property owner who desires to construct an addition to an existing building to facilitate subsequent business expansion.

After investigation by the Division of Transportation staff it has been determined that transfer of the requested portion of unimproved Lauffer Road right of way to the State will not adversely impact the City. It has also been determined that in accordance with the reversionary clause this portion of unimproved Lauffer Road right of way shall be transferred to the State at no charge and that the Land Review Commission provisions of Columbus City Codes should be waived.

2. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow this transfer to occur as soon as possible, thereby allowing the S...

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