Plain City will become involved with Madison County’s new land bank, which village officials said will serve as another economic development tool as the village continues to grow.
Council voted unanimously Monday to allow the village administrator to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Madison County Land Reutilization Corporation.
More commonly known as the “land bank,” Development Coordinator Jason Stanford said it is a governmental agency that can acquire and hold properties “with the goal of returning them to productive use.”
“It’s something I think is a great opportunity for Plain City to get involved with,” he said.
Stanford explained that lots are most commonly acquired by the land bank through foreclosures of tax delinquent properties, although owners can also donate properties.
Communities who partner with the land bank can then acquire vacant lots or foreclosed properties and redevelop them.
For instance, Stanford said Plain City could add green space to the village with property from the land bank or work with a private developer to create new assets in the community.
He said working with the land bank is particularly helpful in addressing blighted or vacant properties. While Plain City does not have many, Stanford said there are “a few.”
Beyond that, he said development facilitated by the land bank can often lead to increased property values.
Stanford said the village has put much effort toward new development recently, but the land bank can help to ensure that older parts of the community are improved when necessary, as well.
The memorandum of understanding will create a partnership between Plain City and the Madison County land bank, and establish the protocol the two will follow.
Stanford added that the land bank is managed through the county, but the Board of Directors is dictated by law and appointments are made accordingly by the county commissioners.
The land bank cannot levy taxes but would receive financial support from Madison County.
Stanford noted that municipalities “have to go through a lot” and it often takes several years to acquire properties. The partnership with the land bank will streamline that process.
He also explained that partnering with the land bank will not interfere with the potential of Plain City creating its own Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) in the future.
Land banks and CICs are “cousins,” Stanford said.
While the land bank acquires properties, “a CIC picks the ball up from there and makes the development happen,” he said.
In response to a question from Council member Michael Terry, Stanford said the land bank was recently established by Madison County, as it had its first meeting in February.
He said, to his knowledge, it does not currently have any properties.
Council member Frank Reed said he is excited about the opportunity to work with the land bank and thanked Stanford for his efforts to do so.
In other business:
– The Plain City Community Yard Sale is coming up this weekend.
The sale will occur from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, rain or shine.
Village officials will publish a map listing the locations of sales prior to the event.
– Council appointed five members to the newly formed Tree Commission, including Christy Syfert, Garrett Price, Mary McGrath, Polly Seum and Tim Miklasiewicz.
Mayor Jody Carney also issued a proclamation naming April 28 as Arbor Day in Plain City.
She noted that the commission and the proclamation are required steps in efforts to obtain Tree City USA status for the village.
– Council set a public hearing for the rezoning of 354 N. Chillicothe St. and 360 N. Chillicothe St. from Neighborhood Business District (B1) to Community Business District (B2) for June 12.
Carney noted that the subject property has been a gas station for over 50 years, so changing the zoning to B2 will bring its use into compliance with the zoning code. She added that the B1 zoning is currently “on an island,” so B2 will also be more aligned with neighboring uses.