Jerome Township Trustees recently approved the rezoning of 163.568 acres, outlined in blue, located along the northwest side of U.S. 42, between Harriott Road and Wells Road. Jerome Village developers intend to add a mix of residential and commercial uses, all located within the Fairbanks school district. (Graphic submitted)
Chaotic meeting results in split vote to OK rezoning
Passions flared during Jerome Township’s most recent public hearing, which ultimately resulted in a split vote to approve the rezoning for a proposed residential development.
Trustee Chair Megan Sloat repeatedly asked residents in attendance not to shout from their seats or speak out of turn throughout the contentious meeting.
Trustees voted 2-1 to rezone approximately 163.6 acres on the northwest side of U.S. 42, between Harriott Road and Wells Road, from Rural Residential District (RU) to Planned Development District (PD).
Bart Barok, of Nationwide Realty Investors, said Jerome Village intends to add a mix of residential and commercial properties to the area. The total density of the development will be 2.3 units per acre.
Approximately 85 acres, or 171 lots, will be single-family homes, while 57 acres, or 211 lots, will be condos.
There will also be eight commercial out lots, ranging from 1.4 to 1.7 acres each, along U.S. 42.
Barok said the “residential retail” lots are “much bigger than a normal out parcel with lots of green space.” He said they will likely have commercial users such as dentists, car washes or banks. He noted developers are also in discussion with a grocery store.
“It is not a regional draw,” Barok said.
Barok said the condo units “won’t have very many kids.” Between those lots and the commercial properties, he said there would be a tax basis for Fairbanks Local Schools before more students are added by the single-family homes.
He provided the trustees with a letter of support from Fairbanks Superintendent Adham Schirg.
The development will feature an extension of Ravenhill Parkway, an 80-foot-wide, non-loaded road.
Barok said there will also be a biking and walking trail along the access road, into the commercial district.
Sloat said she had several concerns surrounding the proposed development.
She asked Barok about pedestrian safety on the trail. He said the Ohio Department of Transportation has approved two signalized intersections on U.S. 42, but ODOT will determine when they can be installed.
Sloat said she was also concerned that expansions to the quarry in Millcreek Township would cause sounds and vibrations that impact the quality of life for residents.
Barok emphasized that the quarry is “more than a mile away” and is controlled by Millcreek Township. He said others live closer to the quarry than the proposed development would be.
“If there were explosions and vibrations, you would already be hearing about them,” Barok said.
Zoning Inspector Eric Snowden also confirmed, “At the end of the day, this applicant is not responsible for land uses on another person’s property.”
Sloat asked if the developer would be able to reconfigure plans to preserve a wooded area on the property.
Barok said the developer would add 2,000 trees to the neighborhood, but could not remove the lots in the woods while keeping the proposed density and sale prices.
“The math has to work,” he said.
Aside from natural features, Sloat also noted that the Columbia Gas high pressure line would likely be running through the development.
Barok said Columbia Gas is interested in placing the line in the area, but the exact location is yet to be determined.
He said he refused to place it along the southern boundary of the development and instead proposed running it along U.S. 42 or the west side of the access road, where easements are already in place.
Director of Departments Douglas Stewart added that officials from Jerome and Millcreek Townships, Union County and the City of Marysville have been united in trying to prevent Columbia Gas from running the pipeline through farm fields.
David Fisher, an attorney for the applicant, said a number of farmers are also engaged in a “Battle Royale” with Columbia Gas. Even so, he said public utilities ultimately have the power of eminent domain.
A group of impassioned residents echoed the concerns shared by Sloat. Some accused the trustees of failing to serve residents of the township.
“I need help from you guys,” Laura Hoffman, an adjacent property owner, said to the trustees. “I don’t need you to say, ‘No questions.’”
Hoffman asked about the gas line and tree preservation, concerns raised earlier by Sloat.
Her husband, Ken Hoffman, directed his questions to the trustees, as well.
“I’ve worked my whole life to have privacy,” he said. “What are you guys going to do to protect me?”
He was met with applause and a chorus of audience members saying “Amen.”
Fred Gardini, another Bell Road resident, said he was “scared” by the density of the project. He said he was also fearful of who his new neighbors would be.
“When you’re on the lower end of the housing market, you know what happens,” he said.
Barok said the home costs will start at $325,000, ranging up to $450,000.
Neighboring property owner Jim Lawrenz shared concerns surrounding preservation, “seismic activity” from the quarry, fire department coverage, Fairbanks capacity and drainage.
Before speaking, though, he acknowledged, “It’s kind of hard to follow up with that kind of passion.”
Trustee C.J. Lovejoy said he understood why people were “emotional” regarding a development coming into a rural area.
Still, he said development is inevitable and it is the trustees’ job to evaluate it, not stop it.
“Development is coming,” Lovejoy said. “We’re trying to give you guys good development.”
He said he knew some residents would disagree with him, but they cannot control what happens on property they do not own.
“It’s not your property, O.K.?” he said to residents in attendance, adding that he felt Jerome Village was a good partner that would work with neighbors.
Trustee Joe Craft also supported the proposed development.
“There’s a lot of things to like here,” he said.
Craft told Sloat he would “really like to have (her) vote on this,” but the board remained divided.
“I mean, I don’t want to roll over on you on this,” he said. “I’d like to talk about it.”
Sloat responded, “I’ve done a lot of talking. I mean, think I’m pretty clear where I am.”
Craft and Lovejoy voted in favor of the rezoning while Sloat dissented.