Local officials are exploring a possible merger ofSt. Albans Township and the Village of Alexandria to preserve the area as the Intel Corporation moves intowestern Licking County, but there might be another way to maintain the region's rural character.
During a special meeting of the St. Albans Township Trustees on Tuesday evening, local experts explained to a standing-roomcrowd ways zoning overlay districts and joint economic development districts could prevent annexation without merging the two entities.
President of Crossroads Community PlanningHolly Mattei said there is no way to stop the development that keeps moving further east from Columbus and therewill be pressure to develop land in the township along Ohio 310.
"I think it’s in the township’s best interest to create a strategy for that corridor and then look at strategies to protect the rest of it," she said.
The first step, Mattei said, is implementing the a zoning overlay district—just like the one she created for Jersey Township that was passed in March —for the Ohio 310 corridor. The overlay would not replace the property's existing zoning but instead would give landowners another option if they choose to develop their land. As developers come in, they could opt in to the zoning. If they meet the design and development standards, Mattei said, they would approved to move forward.
The benefit, she said, is that the overlay can stipulate design and architecture standards,building materials, landscape and "the things that are going to make the character of that corridor."
"I think that it’s very important that you are enabling yourself to maintain that," Mattei said.
Once the zoning is in place, the next step is to create joint economic development districts, called JEDDs, Mattei said. They allow townships to collect income tax on commercial properties within a definedarea, such as the Ohio 310 corridor, through an agreement between a township and a municipality.
As part of the agreement, Mattei said, St. Albans Townshipcould negotiate that the municipality they partner with, such as New Albany, will not annextownship land.
"You start creating that boundary that helps protect the rest of the township," she said.
St. Albans Township Trustee Bruce Lanesaid he has a May meeting scheduled with New AlbanyCity Manager Joe Stefanov to discuss if they are open to a non-annexation agreement.
Andrew King, an attorney with the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District, earlier in the meeting said he understands the residents fears about New Albany. He grew up in Plain Township and watched the New Albany Company tear down his childhood ball park and develop the land near his childhood home.An overlay district and a JEDD through a partnership with New Albany could prevent St. Albans Township residents from the same experience, he said.
He said the township could structure the non-annexation agreement for 50 years, 100 years or forever and it could be for just a portion of land or the entire township.
"That’s an opportunity to go maintain the township form of government and get an agreement for non-annexation," he said.
Plus, the money the township receives from the JEDD would pay for infrastructure updates, park maintenance, creation of bike trails or anything else the township wants instead of the residents paying for it, King said.
Mattei and King fielded questions for nearly a two hours about the logistics of overlay zoning and JEDDs.
Mattei said the income tax from a JEDD would only apply to commercial properties and not single family homes, even if they are built after the JEDD is implemented.
"The businesses and those workers are the ones being taxed, not the residents, so it's a benefit to the community," she said.
The municipality would get a portion of the money generated by a JEDD, Mattei said, adding that it could be80% for the township and 20% for the municipality but she has also seen 90/10 splits. There could also be a fee taken off the top from theRegional Income Tax Agency for the administration of the JEDD.
Earlier in the meeting Licking County AuditorMichaelSmith said if the merger were to take place, the newly expanded village would generate $740,819 of the $1.4 million that the township currently generates. However, the village has a 1% income tax in place, and Lane said he is waiting onOhio's Regional Income Tax Agency to provide an estimate on how much money an expanded village would collect once township residents were included.
Lane and Alexandria Mayor Jim Jasper are inquiring about a possible merger because New Albany is annexing3,190 acres from Jersey Townshipas part of the planned$20 billion Intel Corporation computer chip production facility. The companyexpects to hire 3,000 employees, and it is possible this stage is just thefirst part ofa $100 billion investment by the company.
More:Jim Lenner in demand as Licking County villages, townships prepare for Intel development
The township trustees and the village council would each need to pass near identicallanguage to get a merger on the ballot.
Lane said he is not advocating for a merger, but is doing the research to determine if it's the right move for the area. However, he said he doesn't haveall the answers yet if it is the best path to take.
"I never once said that this could work, ever," he said."All I know is I feel that if it can work, the residents of the township should be allowed to decide that instead of the three trustees deciding to nullify that ability and say, 'No, we're not going to put it on the ballot.' That's all I'm saying."
Lane said he wants the township to take action to get it on the November ballot, adding that the trustees can remove it from the ballot by the end of October if they learn more information and decidea merger is not in the area's best interest.
But residents pushed back against that idea, saying theywould rather the trustees slowthe process.
Mitch Peters, an Alexandria resident who lived in Lima Township when it merged with Pataskala after residents voted for it in 1997, said the development pressure hasn't reached St. Albans Township yet.
"Yes, it's to Mink Road, kind of creeping passed Mink Road, but I think we've got the year to go ahead and spend the year, look at it better than trying to throw it in this November," he said. "I'm not for it, I'm not against it, but I am for looking at it and seeing ... the pros and the cons and what happens."
Other residentswould rather pursue JEDDs instead because it's something the township can do without the village, and specifically asked Mattei for her opinion on how to proceed.
"I believe that the model that I've seen utilized and been successful is either using a JEDD or some other economic development tool and doing a zoning overlay in strategic places to retain the township's control," she said. "No matter what you do, you need to make sure the zoning conforms to whatever model the township goes to."
mdevito@gannett.com
740-607-2175
Twitter: @MariaDeVito13
