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Residents want to keep "small town" feel in JT
(by Linda Dillman - March 10, 2010)
Twenty years ago, Jackson Township was looking to the future with a comprehensive plan guiding development throughout the area. Twenty years later, the township is again looking to the future by updating the 1990s-era plan.
The township municipal building was standing-room-only on March 9 as county planners and township representatives reported results of a process that began 18 months ago with an idea, community survey, and ice cream social.
"We had our first community meeting last summer and got a lot of feedback," said Dick Paddock, chairman of the comprehensive plan steering committee. "We tried to develop a guidance document. It will be a guide to the county. It will definitely be a guide to the township. And we want to make sure it's right before we turn it over to the trustees."
Franklin County planner Scott Fulton told residents the plan is a long-range vision (five to 20 years) for the future and should be updated regularly. The document establishes a consensus on development, policies and initiatives.
"There are many ways to get there," said Fulton, "but we have to ask, 'what's the best way to get there?' Comprehensive plans are used for development proposals and serve as a legal basis for zoning."
According to the planner, you cannot have zoning without a comprehensive plan in the state of Ohio.
"The future land use map (contained within the plan) is not a zoning map. Nothing is going to change without rezoning. It will not change overnight. Nothing is set in stone," said Fulton.
According to results of the 2009 ice cream social, respondents felt Jackson Township should be preserved as is - with no annexation - as the highest priority, followed by maintain/improve the current level of services, keep well and septic available, and maintain the township's "small town" atmosphere.
In addressing areas of change, residents ranked zoning enforcement improvement the highest, with city water without annexation and improvements in storm water drainage a close second and third, in addition to a two acre lot minimum, no warehouses, traffic studies, improved utility services, and control mine and quarry uses.
Goals of the comprehensive plan: educate residents on the zoning process, re-evaluate the township's zoning policy, create a defined logo for Jackson Township, protect natural resources, improve stormwater drainage, preserve unincorporated land, and provide utilities without annexation.
Nearly 100 percent of those surveyed wanted the amount of parks and open space sustained or increased. Residents also wanted no-build zones established along streams to protect water quality, replenish groundwater, and provide habitats for plants and animals.
Over 89 percent of residents surveyed felt it is important to work with area communities and that cooperation can be beneficial to the region as a whole. Respondents also want the township to work with Grove City and Columbus to establish an agreement impeding further annexation and felt centralized utilities can support larger scale businesses and industries, thereby increasing the tax base.
The Franklin County sanitary engineer should be consulted to discuss the feasibility of centralized utilities provided through the county and the township should open a dialog with Grove City and Columbus to discuss the extension of centralized utilities free of the annexation requirement.
"The comprehensive plan is like a road map," said trustee Chairman David Burris. "We want to stay with the comprehensive plan. It's what we want, not just the trustees, but the whole township."
A copy of the comprehensive plan is available on the township's Web site, www.jacksontwp.org.
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