Jerome Township officials hosted a community forum Wednesday to discuss plans for the new Innovation District with residents.
Trustee Chair Megan Sloat, Director of Departments Douglas Stewart, legal counsel for the township Jennifer Huber and Union County Commissioner Chris Schmenk sat in a circle with community members to share information and listen to concerns.
Huber began by describing the proposed zoning overlay, which consists of approximately 741 acres south of Warner Road and north of the Union County/Franklin County line, between the CSX railroad tracks and Industrial Parkway, as a “cloud.”
She noted that, if approved, the overlay would not supersede current zoning in the area. Instead, property owners could elect to “pull it down” to develop within its parameters.
For that reason, she said this planned development district functions differently than others in the area.
“This is different. We know it’s different,” Huber said. “We need for it to be different because it needs to accomplish something different.”
A number of residents asked whether projects in the Innovation District will be subject to referendums.
Huber explained that a decision to enact the zoning overlay district is subject to a referendum. If put in place, development that elects to use the zoning of the overlay district will not be able to be petitioned.
She said this type of zoning provides the “certainty aspect” that attracts businesses.
Sloat said the zoning is just one aspect of the Innovation District that will help protect Jerome Township’s borders.
“If this land is annexed… we have no say in how it’s developed. Zero. None,” Sloat said.
Along with the zoning overlay district, Sloat noted that plans for the Innovation District include strengthening infrastructure to make the area more appealing to prospective businesses.
Schmenk noted that the Innovation District is a collaboration between Jerome Township, the City of Marysville and Union County.
She said the city is involved because its officials have agreed to act as the water and sewer providers in the area. Schmenk said Marysville is “not doing it out of the goodness of their heart,” but because it is beneficial to both parties.
“They’re going to be able to invest some money but get some money back,” Schmenk said.
Likewise, government officials recognize the Innovation District will require road improvements. Union County is involved in the project to fill that gap.
Between the zoning overlay and improved services and infrastructure, Sloat said she expects the Innovation District to attract high quality businesses that ultimately feed money into the township as a whole.
“This makes businesses say, we’re going into Jerome Township – not anywhere else,” Sloat said.
Stewart explained that the Innovation District would be within the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) between Jerome Township and Marysville, as well as the Jerome Township Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) District.
The JEDD, Stewart said, will distribute 70% of income taxes within the district to Jerome Township specifically for infrastructure in the JEDD area; 15% to Jerome Township for other uses and 15% to the City of Marysville. He emphasized that Marysville has agreed to invest its portion in the JEDD area.
He said that means 100% of the JEDD funding will be reinvested in the township.
Union County Auditor Andrea Weaver explained that tax monies generated in a TIF district go into a specific fund controlled by Jerome Township, rather than toward the other levies in place.
Stewart said officials have not yet decided how the TIF revenue will be allocated.
However, he said the law requires that it must be spent on the TIF area or on roads that lead to it. For that reason, he said residents can be certain that it will benefit the township.
Other residents questioned how officials can be sure that commercial development will occur, rather than just new residences.
Huber acknowledged that some of the development will be driven by the market. Though officials hope for balanced growth, she said it can be a “like popcorn” at some points.
Schmenk said she did not want to divulge too much to developers present at the meeting, but said she “would love to see” a development agreement that clarifies what type of development will be solicited and how the Innovation District is built out.
Sloat also reminded residents that the Innovation District will likely be “something that’s going to be a 20-30 year buildout.”
Though the zoning overlay district has not yet come before the trustees for a vote, Stewart said he is proud of the cooperative planning that has surrounded the project thus far.
He said prior to his hiring four years ago, “word was the county and township were at odds.” Now, he said the Jerome Township Innovation District has made clear that local governments are willing to work together for the benefit of the whole.
“This is a great example of partnerships that are working,” Stewart said.