By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
Lockbourne Mayor Christie Ward (left) and Ann Aubry (right), the city of Columbus utility department deputy director of operations, sign an agreement on Aug. 24 expanding utility services to Lockbourne.
An agreement years in the making became reality when the village of Lockbourne and city of Columbus came to terms on utility and development in order to expand the service area.
“(We) signed a water agreement, sewer agreement, and economic development agreement on Aug. 24, which will expand the water and service area,” said Lockbourne Mayor Christie Ward. “This will give Lockbourne an opportunity to grow and develop, which will bring revenue into the village.”
The water agreement is for 25 years and the economic development agreement is for 10 years.
“This is a game changer for Lockbourne and will make the village sustainable,” said Ward. “Lockbourne will now be able to expand its boundaries south to the Pickaway County line, east to the CSX railroad and west to Rt 23.”
With Columbus services now extended to the village—whose borders include Franklin and Pickaway counties—Lockbourne Land LLC filed a petition for the annexation of 114.2 acres of land along Morehead Road near State Route 23.
According to Ward, the developer hopes to begin phase one of a development in spring of 2024 with excavation east of Morehead Road at Rowe Road The company intends to build up the land west of Morehead Road in preparation for commercial development along State Route 23 within three years.
“The Lockbourne Planning Commission will be working with the property owners on zoning and future development,” Ward said.
There are approximately 250 residents comprising 100 households in Lockbourne on the outskirts of Rickenbacker International Airport.
In 1993, the Lockbourne Village Council passed an ordinance mandating connection to a central sanitary wastewater system and property owners tapped into sanitary lines at that time.
While there were earlier attempts to establish an agreement with Columbus, Ward said the relationship between the village and the city was strained from past administrations.
“One of my priorities as mayor was to rebuild the relationship with Columbus, so we could come to this moment,” Ward said. “We want the village to grow and be sustainable, but want to do it in a smart way. Residents move into Lockbourne because it is a small, quiet community. As we grow, we want to make sure that we don’t lose that small town feel and that the character of the town remains.”
