EXPLANATION
BACKGROUND: The City owns real property located at 4850 West Powell Road, Powell, Ohio 43065 {Delaware County Tax Parcel 319-331-01-003-000} (“Property”), commonly known as the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (“Zoo”), which is managed by the Department of Finance and Management (“Finance”) and leased to the Zoo. The Zoo is currently engaged in upgrading some exhibits and infrastructure including the construction of a new bird holding building and upgrades to the water service infrastructure. In order to accommodate the construction of the bird holding building, a portion of an existing easement granted to Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc., an Ohio corporation, (“Columbia”) will need to be relocated. Columbia is requesting that the existing easement recorded in Deed Book 581, Page 161, Recorder’s Office, Delaware County, Ohio be amended to add an approximate 0.032 acre strip of land adjacent to the existing easement to allow for the gas line to be relocated. In exchange for the new easement area Columbia has agreed to release a similar portion of their existing easement to allow for the construction of the new bird holding building.
Additionally, as part of the Zoo’s infrastructure improvement for their water lines, Del-Co Water Company, Inc (“Del-Co”) is requesting an approximate 0.045 acre easement for the installation of new water infrastructure. Finance reviewed the requests and supports amending Columbia’s existing easement and granting the easement to Del-Co at no cost in consideration that (i) the Columbia easement amendment is being requested by the Zoo to support new construction, (ii) the Del-co easement supports water services to the Property, and (iii), the easements will be nonexclusive.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT: Not applicable.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested in order to allow for the timely granting of the easements. The Zoo recently became aware of the need for the easement amen...
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