CITY PLANNING, PROJECTS, & SERVICES COMMITTEE

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

REGULAR MEETING

8:00 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Fix called the meeting to order at 8:00 P.M., with Mr. Fix and Mr. Barletta present. Mr. Blair arrived at 8:15 P.M. No members were absent. Others present were: Bill Vance, Lynda Yartin, Greg Bachman, Ed Drobina, Joe Henderson, Chet Hopper, Scott Fulton, Chris Schweitzer, Dwayne Mohler, and others.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF August 17, 2011, Regular Meeting. Mr. Barletta moved to approve; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Barletta and Mr. Fix voting “Yes.” Motion passed, 2-0.

3. COMMUNITY COMMENTS: There were no community comments.

4. DEVELOPMENT:

A. Development Director’s Report. Mr. Henderson stated he had provided a written report and would answer any questions.

(1) Annexation – Update. Mr. Fix clarified the County Engineer has requested some information on the Bashore annexation and Mr. Hartmann is working to get that information.

(2) Development Process. Mr. Henderson stated the transition of some Planning duties to Mr. Fulton is going smoothly.

(3) Economic Development Marketing Plan. Mr. Henderson stated he is continuing to develop material to be used for potential developers or business owners.

(4) Business Retention Project – Update. Mr. Henderson stated the business outreach team is continuing to visit local businesses. Mr. Fix stated he appreciated the update provided on those visits.

(5) Long Range Economic Development Plan – Update. Mr. Henderson stated he had attended the IEDC Conference in Charlotte, NC, and it was very beneficial.

(6) Implementation of the Diley Road Corridor Plan – Update. Mr. Henderson stated locations for the development signs have been identified and they are being installed now.

5. PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT:

A. Planning and Zoning Representative Report (Mr. Blair) No report.

B. Planning and Zoning Department Report (Mr. Henderson) Mr. Fulton stated at the last Planning and Zoning Commission meeting there were only four members present and one case failed with a tie vote. He stated this dealt with rezoning a property from Planned Office District because the property owners were moving their business and they wanted the opportunity to rent the property for residential purposes in addition to office use. Mr. Fulton stated the only district they could do that in is a C-2 and there were some concerns by a neighbor that a business that would be to intense for the property could go in. He stated those concerns would more likely be addressed from market issues in terms of space of the building, parking, etc. He stated basically the only thing the building could be used for would be lower intensity uses such as an office. Mr. Fix clarified that currently it can only be used as office, but the owner would like the ability to have it be used as a residence or for an office. Mr. Henderson stated this is on the agenda later in this meeting and staff would be asking that it be sent back to Planning and Zoning next month so a full Commission could hear the case. Mr. Henderson stated the Chairman of Planning and Zoning has expressed an interest in having this reconsidered by a full Commission. Mr. Vance stated staff was not recommending this Committee overrule Planning and Zoning Commission just that this issue go back to them for some additional discussion. Further, it is on tonight’s agenda because the process is that it comes forward to this Committee from Planning and Zoning Commission with their recommendation, either for or against. This Committee can then send it to Council as not recommended or send it back to Planning and Zoning for reconsideration if they desire.

C. Fairfield County Regional Planning Commission – Update. Mr. Henderson stated there was no report this evening.

D. ACTION ITEMS:

(1) Review and discussion regarding rezoning of 35 West Church Street from PO (Planned Suburban Office) to C-2 (Central Business/Mixed Use District). Mr. Fix moved to request reconsideration of this issue by Planning and Zoning Commission; Mr. Barletta seconded the motion. Mr. Henderson stated that all of the neighbors would be notified that this will be on the next Planning and Zoning Commission agenda. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fix and Mr. Barletta voting “Yes.” Motion passed, 2-0.

(2) Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance to amend Chapter 1286.34, Outdoor Service Facility Regulations. Mr. Fulton stated a text amendment was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission to allow outdoor service facilities to be a conditional use in the M district. Mr. Barletta moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Barletta and Mr. Fix voting “Yes.” Motion passed, 2-0.

a. Review and request for motion to schedule public hearing regarding amendment to Chapter 1286.34, Outdoor Service Facility Regulations. Mr. Fix moved to schedule a public hearing before Council on November 1, 2011, at 7:15 P.M.; Mr. Barletta seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Barletta and Mr. Fix voting “Yes.” Motion passed, 2-0.

6. BUILDING DEPARTMENT.

A. Building Department/Chief Building Official’s Report. Mr. Hopper stated he had provided a written report for the Committee and would answer any questions. Mr. Fix clarified we have added $33 million of construction value to the City this year. Mr. Fix inquired if Mr. Hopper could coordinate with the Finance Director to estimate what incremental property taxes that would generate for the City in 2012. He stated if that is something could be done and included in this report it would be great. Mr. Hopper stated that as of this date we are at 45 single family homes and we had estimated 50 for this year.

B. Code Revisions. No report.

7. SERVICE DEPARTMENT

A. Service Manager’s Report. Mr. Drobina stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions. Mr. Fix stated that in some areas the weeds that grow where the gutter meets the street have been taken care of and in some areas they have not. He questioned if this could be taken care of during leaf pick-up or how we take care of this problem. Mr. Drobina stated we have not started spraying the streets as yet however we do have weeds in a few areas and when they are noticed they take care of it. Mr. Bachman further stated in the crack sealing contract he had included the killing of the weeds on the streets.

Mr. Drobina stated he had received a request from Huntington Bank at 125 Postage Drive for a deduct meter. He stated it was his understanding that for commercial building a deduct meter could not be used for irrigation systems and they are requesting this for watering their lawn. He stated he will notify them that their request cannot be granted, but he wanted the Committee to be aware of it.

Mr. Barletta stated he would like to thank Mr. Drobina and his staff at the water plant as he had visited them last week and received a tour of the facility.

B. WASTEWATER

(1) TDS – Update. Mr. Drobina stated he would request this be removed from the agenda now that the reverse osmosis is operational. Mr. Fix stated he agreed and requested this item be removed from the agenda.

C. WATER.

(1) Water storage tank maintenance contract - Update. Mr. Drobina stated we would be working on putting out a request for proposal this fall. Mr. Fix clarified we would be working with other governmental entities that would like to be included.

8. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

A. Engineer’s Report. Mr. Bachman stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions. Mr. Bachman stated he would like to mention that Verizon is going to be on the Refugee Road water tank and that contract will be coming before the next Finance Committee. He stated this lease will be $25,000 per year. Mr. Bachman stated combined with the other leases we have on the Longview tower, this will bring us about $77,000 per year. Mr. Bachman stated we have had a number of minor traffic signal problems and the company we have been using has become less and less responsive so we are looking at other companies to do our maintenance.

B. ACTION ITEMS:

(1) Water Master Plan and Sewer Master Plan - Update. Mr. Bachman stated he would have a presentation on these next month, but we are already using those in upgrading the CIP for next year.

(2) S.R. 256 Safety Improvement Project - Update. Mr. Bachman stated the application is going well; we were recommended from the District level to ODOT’s Central Office. He stated he has met with staff at Central Office and they seem to be supportive of it. He stated he will give a presentation to Central Office on October 21^st and we should hear by the end of November or in December whether we get the grant and what the funding might be. He stated he is requesting $5 million and 90 percent funding.

(3) Submission of the S.R. 256 storm sewer project for OPWC funds – Update. Mr. Bachman stated he is working on this application. He stated we want to line that entire pipe, which is about one-half mile, and it will cost about $300,000 to do that. He stated he is requesting a 75 percent grant from OPWC.

(4) Review and discussion regarding Ordinance 2002-07, accepting a permanent easement from Gregory D. and Ann H. Lisk. Mr. Bachman stated this has been surveyed, we have the legal description, and the law director is working on the appraisal.

(5) Review and discussion regarding drainage issues on Cricket Court and Washington Street. Mr. Bachman stated we are doing the surveying on Cricket Court this week. He stated he has met with the residents both upstream and downstream and instead of a 12” pipe he plans to extend the 6” plastic pipe and that seems to be the best compromise for everyone. Mr. Bachman stated that will handle all the water at peak times and will be lest costly than the $25,000. Mr. Bachman stated the surveying is done for the drainage issue on Washington Street and we will be working on the design for that catch basin.

C. TRANSPORTATION

(1) Review and discussion regarding City’s acceptance of Postage Drive. Mr. Bachman stated this is on Council’s agenda. Mr. Fix stated this can be removed from the agenda.

(2) Discussion regarding proposed Diley Road/S.R. 256 Roundabout. Mr. Bachman stated the developer of the Drug Mart plaza is looking for better access to that shopping center and one of the ideas they came up with after having a traffic study done was a roundabout for that intersection of S.R.256 and Diley Road. Mr. Bachman stated he did not think one would fit there but actually one does fit because there is a triangular piece of property next to a pond on the northwest corner. Mr. Bachman stated the developer is interested enough that he would like to have an engineer take a look at the geometry and see if it fits in there. Mr. Bachman stated this would not be an inexpensive roundabout; it would cost about $1.5 million. He stated we have looked at safety and we have 10-15 crashes a year at that intersection and that would qualify it for safety funding through ODOT. Mr. Bachman stated he would pursue it a little bit further because the advantages of a roundabout are less crashes and a better traffic flow. Mr. Fix stated he appreciated Mr. Bachman making the Committee aware of this, however, his perception based on the feedback he has received from council members, is there is a high degree of skepticism.

Mr. Fix clarified the Federal Highway Agency has put the ACS Lite Operational Study on hold at this time. Mr. Bachman stated he has heard there is a competing system to ACS lights called InSync that is being pushed instead of ACS.

9. CHAIRMAN.

A. Strategic Plans Goals – Update. Mr. Fix stated he had no update this evening.

10. OTHER BUSINESS:

A. Proposed solar panel project at the water treatment plant - Update. Mr. Vance stated he spoke with Tipping Point and the law director’s office today. He stated the proposal we put forward needs to be airtight and we are just about there.

B. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Parking/Access Easement Agreement to obtain additional City parking facilities. Mr. Vance stated this is with regard to the agreement between the City of Pickerington and 37 East Columbus Street for additional parking. Mr. Vance stated in return for additional parking for the Building Department the City agrees to pave and stripe the lot as described in the agreement. Mr. Blair moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Barletta seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fix, Mr. Blair, and Mr. Barletta voting “Yes.” Motion passed, 3-0.

11. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Blair moved to adjourn; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Mr. Blair, Mr. Barletta, and Mr. Fix voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 3-0. The City Planning, Projects, and Services Committee adjourned at 8:35 P.M., September 22, 2011.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, City Clerk