[ back ]
City lightens rules for Town Center merchants
(by Andrea Cordle, Southwest Editor - August 19, 2010)
Small business owners in the Town Center want the city to make things easier for them.
At the Aug. 16 meeting, the administration asked Grove City Council to amend a zoning ordinance to lift constraints on the business owners.
Pam Brown, owner of Grandstand Pizza, wants to fix her business sign. She said the current code makes it difficult. Brown said she has had to attend several council and planning commission meetings to simply fix her front sign.
Chris Boso, owner of Broadway Design Group, said the awning in the front of his downtown business has been damaged. He wanted to fix it quickly, but could not. He had to wait several weeks for city approval.
The businesses in the Town Center fall under a historical preservation district. Therefore, the rules are different. In other businesses, the owner would be able to fix a sign or awning with the approval of the city's development department. In the historical preservation district, the change must go through the planning commission, then onto council for approval.
The administration suggested changing the code so existing businesses can make insignificant changes without going through the current approval channels.
Councilman Steven Bennett said the city should maintain continuity and council should still play a role in decisions concerning businesses in the Town Center.
"Who would make the determination of what is a significant change?" asked Bennett.
Bennett suggested moving the planning commission meeting to the same week as council to streamline the process.
Council president Ted Berry suggested removing the planning commission from the process. The change request would go to the development department, then right to council.
"This would save time," said Berry.
Mayor Richard "Ike" Stage said new signs would still go through the current process. The amendment would deal with existing structures, not new construction.
"We need to have people get their places fixed up," said Stage.
Councilman Greg Grinch said the city has offered loan programs and put forth taxpayer dollars to help business owners in the Town Center.
'We need to trust our business owners to follow the guidelines," said Grinch.
After much debate, council unanimously approved the amendment. The measure was passed as an emergency so business owners can start on their repairs.
Metro park
Council approved an ordinance to donate 192 acres of undeveloped land along the Scioto River to Metro Parks.
John O'Meara, executive director of Metro Parks, attended the meeting and said he was excited to get the process moving for a Metro Park in the Grove City area. The park system has already acquired 70 acres of land off State Route 104. Metro Parks will use funds from the May 2009 0.75-mill levy to build and operate the new park.
The park, located around Grant Run, would have typical Metro Park amenities, said O'Meara. It would include walking trails, natural areas and picnic areas.
"It will be really good to have this in the community," said councilwoman Melissa Albright.
Bennett asked the parks director if they planned to release bison in the park. He said he had heard Metro Parks had wanted to introduce bison into its park system. Bennett said he was concerned because the park would be located close to a residential area.
O'Meara said there are no plans to bring bison into that location.
"We are looking forward to working with the city and the residents," said O'Meara. "We want to get this project going."
Metro Parks hopes to have the park operational in a few years.
Meeting
The next Grove City Council meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday in observance of Labor Day.
[ back ]
