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Report on area plan shows progress
The two-year progress report for the Southwest Area Plan, which was adopted by Columbus City Council on March 2, 2009, was presented to Franklin Township residents at the March 3 Board of Trustees meeting. Mostly consisting of land use recommendations and transportation, Project Manager Ben Weiner said the progress report is an effort to help the community better understand the progress made thus far. “It’s two years on and we’ve accomplished some things, some things are in progress, and some things have not been addressed yet,” Weiner said. “This is to measure and track where we’ve been and hopefully orient us to where we’re going.” The report outlines the accomplishments of securing $250,000 from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission towards the funding of sidewalks along Harrisburg Pike, reimagining the development of the former Children’s Services site, and installing a protective easement in the areas of Early Run and Big Run to reduce pollution from damaging the environment. Currently in progress are the plans to construct a rain garden within Franklin Township in spring 2011, which is designed to absorb pollution and will double as an education center. Also, with the plan’s guide to enhance neighborhood pride the report entails the progress of the township gateway signage and the future removal of blighted/disrepair structures from the community. As part of the Southwest Area Plan’s land use goals, a public meeting will be held on Mar. 23 at the Franklin Township Firehouse at 4100 Sullivant Ave. at 6 p.m. Letters will be mailed out to area property owners informing them of the meeting. “This is one of the implementation items of the Southwest Area Plan,” Weiner said. “…when we went through the area planning process, one of the issues that came up was the desire to see a little better development centers for commercial development.” The meeting is to deal with the Smart Growth Overlay, which according to Weiner, will be to discuss what development standards the community would like to see applied to new commercial development and major rehab of present businesses. Weiner added that these changes will not affect the minor rehab of already established properties. The two-year progress report in entirety can be found at www.franklincountyohio.gov/
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