More trouble for Whim's Ditch?

(by Heather Taylor, Staff Writer - February 11, 2009)

Ralph Horn, chairman of the Southwest Area Commission, visited Franklin Township trustees Feb. 5 to report that a property developer’s plans could have negative affects on township residents.

According to Horn, developer Tom Simon works with a group named WODA and is interested in developing an 18 acre field at the intersection of Richmond and Brown roads. It is an area close to Whim’s Ditch, although not adjacent, which is still distressing to Tom Shockley, director of Franklin County Sanitary Engineering.

“I’m very concerned and so should the commissioners be because this drainage will definitely affect Whim’s Ditch,” said Shockley. “Because of the wall created by Inland Products there, it just hits the wall and can’t drain the water out fast enough.”

Whims Ditch is an open field known for flooding and the new development would be somewhat west of that area but not far enough to suit area leaders.

“The storm water will flow to Whim’s Ditch. It will just compound the problem we already have,” said Trustee Chairman Tim Guyton. “We need to keep an eye on this.”

Horn said Simons’ plans are to build 97 or more single family homes in that area, which has been cleared of all trees. There are no retention ponds.

“There hasn’t been any infrastructure there at all,” said Horn.

Guyton explained that Whim’s Ditch is a man-made ditch that is flat and used to be a flood plain.

“The city gave fill permits and they filled above the flood plain and when they did so, to have a route into the area, they put in concrete tiles and the tiles are running uphill; and water doesn’t flow uphill, so it stagnates and backs up. The ones that pay the price are our residents at lower Little, Hart, Richter and Avis,” said Guyton.

Cynthia Rickman, public information officer for the Columbus Department of Development said she is not aware of any development in the Brown and Richmond roads area.

“If there is, we haven’t been told,” said Rickman.

Horn said Simons will be at the next Southwest Area Commission meeting on Feb. 18 to discuss his plans and he encouraged residents to come and hear him out.

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