Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of Recreation and Parks to formally exchange one parcel split of parkland within Alkire Woods Park and accept and dedicate two parcel splits from an adjacent private owner for additional parkland within Alkire Woods Park. These parcels are in the vicinity of Alkire Lakes Drive in the City’s Hilltop Community. Additionally, this ordinance will give the Director of Recreation and Parks the authority to grant temporary construction easements and a permanent drainage easement, together with any other necessary documents, serving the overall development of Allmon Run, by DR Horton-Indiana, LLC.
The exchange of parkland will be 2.1 acres, from Recreation and Parks’ parcel # 010-263091, to DR Horton for 1.2 acres of DR Horton parcels 010-273418 and 010-252451 to Recreation and Parks. DR Horton will also provide improvements to Alkire Woods Park in the form of invasive plant removal, native tree and shrub plantings, and construction of 0.25 mile of neighborhood path connections to the park for the surrounding neighborhoods.
Principal Parties:
DR Horton-Indiana LLC
507 Executive Campus Drive, Suite 100
Westerville, OH 43082
Terry Andrews, (614) 365-0066
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow the land exchange to be completed immediately so that the associated park improvements can be completed within the 2021 construction season.
Benefits to the Public: This land exchange will result in increased park and trail access for hundreds of residents to Alkire Woods Park, a 15 acre community park in the southern Hilltop area. Natural areas will be improved, including invasive species removal and new native tree plantings. Once completed, safer connectivity and improved trailhead access is provided to the regional network.
Community Input/Issues: The Greater Hilltop Community is one of the city’s most underserved areas for parks, nature, and safe access to greenspace. The Allmon Run development was presented and approved in early 2021 by the Greater Hilltop Area Commission and the Department of Development. Over 1,000 residents live within a few minutes of this project and the development project will add 300 new residents once it is completed.
Area(s) Affected: Greater Hilltop (53)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by improving access to trails and greenways corridors.
Fiscal Impact: No fiscal action is required at this time.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to formally exchange one parcel split of parkland within Alkire Woods Park and accept and dedicate two parcel splits from an adjacent private owner for additional parkland within Alkire Woods Park; to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to grant temporary construction easements and a permanent drainage easement, and execute other necessary documents, serving the overall development of Allmon Run, by DR Horton-Indiana, LLC in the vicinity of Alkire Lakes Drive; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to formally exchange one parcel split of parkland within Alkire Woods Park and accept and dedicate two parcel splits from an adjacent private owner for additional parkland within Alkire Woods Park, in the vicinity of Alkire Lakes Drive; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to grant temporary construction easements and a permanent drainage easement, together with any other necessary documents, serving the overall development of Allmon Run, by DR Horton-Indiana, LLC; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director enter into this agreement to allow the land exchange to be completed immediately so that the associated park improvements can be completed within the 2021 construction season, all 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 Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized to formally exchange one parcel split of parkland within Alkire Woods Park and accept and dedicate two parcel splits from an adjacent private owner for additional parkland within Alkire Woods Park, in the vicinity of Alkire Lakes Drive. The exchange of parkland will be 2.1 acres, from Recreation and Parks’ parcel # 010-263091 to DR Horton, in exchange for 1.2 acres of DR Horton parcels 010-273418 and 010-252451 to Recreation and Parks.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized to grant a non-exclusive temporary construction easement and a permanent drainage easement serving the overall development of Allmon Run, by DR Horton-Indiana, LLC, and to authorize the Director to execute other necessary documents.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.