A group of residents has formally announced its intention to try to stop an approved annexation.
Earlier this week a group of citizens delivered a letter to City Finance Director Brad Lutz.
The letter contained a copy of a recent city ordinance approving the annexation of 263 acres in Paris Township into the city and a copy of the referendum petition committee members said they intend to circulate to residents. The referendum would “place the ordinance before all the electors of Marysville for their approval or rejection at the next general election.”
On Nov. 14, by a 5-2 vote, Marysville City Council Monday approved the annexation and rezoned the land to Planned Unit Development. Council members Henk Berbee and Donald Boerger voted against the move. Council’s decision would allow Highland Development to construct the 635-home Stillwater Farms development on Route 245, west of Route 4 and U.S. 36 near the U.S. 33 east exit.
Several other city council members had initially opposed the annexation and development, but Highland agreed to contribute nearly $3 million to construct a traffic signal and a left turn lane at the U.S. 33 exit ramp onto Northwest Parkway, a right turn lane on Route 245 onto Northwest Parkway, a left turn lane from Route 245 into the Stillwater Farms development and a left turn lane from Route 245 onto the U.S. 33 westbound ramp. Neighbors and city officials said the area is already difficult to navigate and busy. City officials said the only the way infrastructure improvements can be made is if the developer pays for them. The Ohio Department of Transportation initially resisted the improvements but said that if the development goes in, it would permit them.
“I think the goal of the referendum is to get the ordinance, passed by council, in front of the entire electorate,” said Law Director Tim Aslaner.
Brandon Clay, deputy director of the Union County Board of Elections, said board of elections officials are more familiar with the referendum process in a township, though he said it is likely “at least similar.”
He said for a referendum of a township action, the petition needs to be filed within 30 days of the decision. The petitions are filed with the board of trustees, which present them to the board of elections to determine the validity of the petitions and the number of valid signatures.
That information is given to the trustees. If the petition is correct and has at least the required number of signatures, the trustees motion to put the referendum on the next general election.
He said the referendum process in the city could be different because it has a charter.
“We need to review the charter and familiarize ourselves the process in the city,” Clay said.
Aslaner said the city charter “basically says we follow the Ohio Revised Code with referendum and recall issues.”
Clay said the referendum request would need 10% of the number of city voters casting ballots for governor in the last gubernatorial election. Clay said because of the timing of council’s vote, it is unclear whether the petition would need 10% of voters in the 2018 gubernatorial election, 824 signatures, or 10% of the 2022 gubernatorial election, 804 signatures.
Aslaner said that if the board of elections says the petition language is correct and it has enough signatures, council would need to put the legislation on the Nov. 7, 2023 ballot.
Additionally, he said the annexation, the rezoning, the infrastructure improvements and the development would likely all be on hold until the voters decide the question.
“As far as I know, it is going to be stayed,” Aslaner said, adding that he had not yet informed the developer or land owner about the committee’s intent to circulate the referendum petitions.
“We are a long way from there right now,” Aslaner said.
He added, “All we have right now is a notice that a petition is being circulated.”
Information from the referendum notice details a committee including members Kelly Thornton, Darrin Miller, Claudia Bartow, Laura Falk and Sarah Scott. The Journal-Tribune attempted to contact committee members, though they did not return calls.
Another individual connected to the referendum provided information, but did not want to be quoted.