By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Groveport City Council took steps to avoid the potential delay of a large warehouse project on Rohr Road.
In November, council approved an ordinance to amend the zoning of 41.4 acres located at 2850 Rohr Road to allow VanTrust Real Estate to construct a 432,000 square foot building and a 598,000 square foot building for warehousing and distribution.
However, according to Groveport City Attorney Kevin Shannon, the original ordinance approved by council contained wording mandating the developer conform to ingress and egress access requirements on Rohr Road set by the Franklin County Engineer.
Shannon said city officials are concerned because the county engineer is working with Obetz regarding Rohr Road access on another much larger development nearby. He said city officials feel it is not right for Groveport and VanTrust Real Estate to have to wait on the county engineer before starting the Groveport-approved project.
“The county still hasn’t acted on the Obetz development,” said Groveport City Administrator Marsha Hall, who added that while the city has always worked well with the county in the past, “We do not want our development incorporated into their (Obetz’) discussion.”
“The bottom line is it’s our (Groveport’s) roadway. Why hold the development off?” said Shannon.
On Dec. 21, council voted to amend the ordinance to require the developer to conform to ingress and egress access requirements on Rohr Road set by the city of Groveport engineer instead of by the county engineer in order to allow the project to proceed.
Getting ready for 2016 projects
In a flurry of year-end legislation, council approved several ordinances to kick-off a series of budgeted projects set for 2016.
“Approval of this legislation now gets things moving to start the year,” said Hall.
One ordinance includes funding for $914,000 worth of projects at The Links at Groveport golf course, including $454,000 for the hillside project, $100,000 to reconfigure and move golf hole #9 (including reconfiguring the cart path), and $360,000 to add 58 parking spaces to the golf course parking lot. Hall said the hillside project entails cutting down the hill and reconfiguring the path leading from the parking lot to the building to be ADA accessible, rebuilding the steps from the lot to the building, adding new lighting to both the path and the steps, reconfiguring the cart storage area at the top, adding ADA entry to the clubhouse and adding a patio with separation from the cart storage area.
According to Groveport Golf Director Tom Walker, reconfiguring golf hole #9 involves shortening the par 3 hole by 30 yards. Work on hole #9 could begin in the spring of 2016 and be completed by the spring of 2017. Walker said that while the work is being done hole #9 will remain in play with a temporary green.
Council also authorized Hall to solicit bids and enter into contracts for:
•the estimated $130,000 project for the completion of the sidewalk from Heritage Park to Main Street along the south side of Wirt Road.
(On a side note regarding this project, the city’s planning and zoning commission will review an ordinance approving the city’s proposed final plat for Wirt Road at its Jan. 4 meeting at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 655 Blacklick St. According to city officials, research regarding Wirt Road from College Street to Main Street and the adjacent former Ohio and Erie Canal lands revealed the old survey records were “inconsistent and ambiguous” regarding Wirt Road and its right-of-way. The city hired a professional surveyor to survey and research the area’s property records and plats, which resulted in a proposed final plat contained in the ordinance to be reviewed by the planning and zoning commission and by city council.)
•the estimated $350,000 annual city street maintenance program. Streets scheduled for maintenance/resurfacing in 2016 include: Cherry Street east of West Street; College Street south of Main Street; Walnut Street south of Main Street; restriping Saltzgaber Road and Commerce Center Drive; and crack sealing subdivision streets.
•the estimated $124,500 for painting the recreation center’s indoor pool ceiling and walls.
•the estimated $90,000 for well field improvements.
Council also authorized Hall to enter into a lease agreement with Huntington Public Capital Corporation to purchase: two police cruisers and equipment for a total of $112,750; one $78,050 1-ton dump truck for park maintenance; one $135,250 single axle 25-ton dump truck for public works; one $70,250 rough mower for the golf course; one $25,250 pick-up truck for building and zoning; one $28,250 Cushman truckster and one $7,350 Tiger Cub mower for parks maintenance.
