I want to ask that everyone in Golf Villages, Wedgewood and Campden Lakes to strongly encourage their residents to attend 3 Liberty Township Board of Zoning Appeals meetings on Tuesday evenings, September 11, September 25 and October 9, 2007 at 7:30 PM, with the meetings held at the Olentangy Liberty High School.
The issue before the Board of Zoning Appeals was remanded there by Judge Duncan Whitney in the State Court system as a result of developer, Charlie Ruma, and big box Wal-Mart (220,000 SF regional supercenter), filing an action as a plaintiff against the Liberty Township Trustees as defendants. The lawsuit demands that the Township issue a building permit for a Wal-Mart Superstore on 30+/- acres of land at the southwest corner of Sawmill Parkway and North Hampton (2,000+/- yards south of Powell Road).
We must fight both Target and Wal-Mart together, for if either one of these big box regional retail centers were to be approved, it would be precedent setting in the eyes of the courts. Please send out letters, emails, talk to neighbors ... let's show the Liberty Township Board of Zoning Appeals that we do care about preserving our property values and our way of life that brought us all into Liberty Township.
I want to thank you, in advance, for your help in this matter. Please make it a high priority.
Please turn out for this and the other scheduled BZA hearings at the Olentangy Liberty High School, 3584 Home Road.
Olentangy This Week Article
http://www.thisweeknews.com/?sec=powell&story=sites/thisweeknews/083007/Powell/News/083007-News-409246.html&tab=tab1
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Golf Village Residents
The Golf Village Residents (GVR) have organized for the purpose of helping our governing officials understand the overwhelmingly negative sentiment held by the residents of the area. Economic impact analysis have, time and again, demonstrated that BIG BOX retail is a negative economic impact on a local economy, It requires more of local services and infrastructure than the small portion of sales tax and the low wage income tax contribute to the equation.
If litigation becomes necessary the Golf Village Residents have established a legal defense fund and have also aligned with the Community Oversight Foundation (COF).
Please see your neighborhood coordinator to sign your pledge and submit your first check for the legal defense fund. Your neighborhood leaders are neighbors on your street that have been door to door to request you signature on the Target petition. They will be emailing you soon to alert you of the defense fund initiative and giving you their preferred method of contact, Drop the check off at their house, or they will be knocking on your door, hopefully for the last time. The objective is to communicate via a bulletin board website in the near future.
To voluteer to assist with this effort please contact:
Jon Bennehoof - jon_bennehoof@columbus.rr.com
The collected monies will be earmarked by COF
If litigation becomes necessary the Golf Village Residents have established a legal defense fund and have also aligned with the Community Oversight Foundation (COF).
Please see your neighborhood coordinator to sign your pledge and submit your first check for the legal defense fund. Your neighborhood leaders are neighbors on your street that have been door to door to request you signature on the Target petition. They will be emailing you soon to alert you of the defense fund initiative and giving you their preferred method of contact, Drop the check off at their house, or they will be knocking on your door, hopefully for the last time. The objective is to communicate via a bulletin board website in the near future.
To voluteer to assist with this effort please contact:
Jon Bennehoof - jon_bennehoof@columbus.rr.com
The collected monies will be earmarked by COF
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Article on Impact of Clintonville Target
Motorists driving through Clintonville Aug. 13 might see people carrying picket signs about abortion and the Iraq war, but they likely won't see protests about the traffic around Graceland Shopping Center.
The Delawanda Residents' Association, which represents the neighborhood south of Graceland, had planned to hit the sidewalks that Saturday to protest Columbus' apparent failure to address new traffic generated by the reinvigorated shopping center.
But the association has since decided the city is moving forward on the issue after all, said Erik Venteris, association president.
Residents have voiced concern about the volume and speed of cut-through traffic from the shopping center, which they said increased markedly since Kroger Marketplace opened late last year. That problem was expected to be exacerbated with the recent addition of a Target store.
John Bennett, former president of the neighborhood group, said the traffic created by Graceland now is greater than it has been in the past.
"It's changed somewhat," he said. "We used to get traffic from the shopping center mainly on weekends and on big shopping days, but now there are more cars and more people driving them."
The addition of big-box stores such as Target is "great," Bennett said, because it will "bring in all kinds of businesses," but Graceland's rebirth has a downside for Delawanda.
"It's a residential neighborhood with narrow streets and no sidewalks, and we can't be a driveway for a major shopping center like that," he said.
Bennett said he's concerned about the traffic generated not only by customers, but also by delivery trucks, despite posted signs forbidding through truck traffic.
Since a May meeting with Columbus traffic officials, "it's been a bit frustrating because the process has been very slow, but it is moving," he said.
Mary Carran Webster, assistant director of the Columbus Public Service Department, said workshops were held May 10 and 24, during which residents discussed five options aimed a deterring cut-through traffic:
*Close Milton Avenue, a north-south Delawanda street, at Graceland. The option, she said, received a favorable response from most residents, but those who did object to it had strong reservations.
*Close the drive that runs between Kroger and Target. Webster said the option was also supported and did not elicit as strong objections as closing Milton Avenue.
Still, Bennett said while this option could reduce customer traffic "quite a bit," it might increase delivery-truck traffic.
*Erect signs encouraging people to use High Street rather than traveling through the neighborhood.
*"Calm" traffic by introducing traffic circles, allowing additional parking along the streets, physically narrowing the streets or adding striping along them to give the appearance of a more-narrow road. Such efforts could be done along Milton, Rathbone or Leland avenues.
*Install speed humps along some of the neighborhood roadways. Webster said the option received a poor response from residents.
She said closing the roads, installing signs and painting striping are less expensive choices, while installing traffic circles or speed humps would be more costly.
Webster said since the meeting with the residents, the city has contacted its police, fire and refuse divisions to see how the various options could affect their ability to provide services. She said the city also has approached the Don M. Casto Organization, which owns the shopping center, to elicit its opinion on methods of reducing the amount of cut-through traffic.
She said the process has taken a few months because, "sometimes not everyone's review happens overnight."
And, said Webster, it's been only two weeks since the Target opened, too soon for any solid numbers on the traffic it has generated.
"We don't believe it's taking too long, given that the store just opened," she said.
Webster said it's also difficult to predict how many cars the new Graceland stores will generate. She said no information is available on what kind of traffic the 50-year-old shopping center generated when it was in its heyday.
"A lot of thought goes into this," she said. "We don't want to create another problem trying to fix a problem."
Webster said there is no set timeline for addressing the Delawanda traffic issue, but that work would be begun "sooner rather than later."
http://www.snponline.com/NEWS8-3/8-3_bodelawanda.htm
The Delawanda Residents' Association, which represents the neighborhood south of Graceland, had planned to hit the sidewalks that Saturday to protest Columbus' apparent failure to address new traffic generated by the reinvigorated shopping center.
But the association has since decided the city is moving forward on the issue after all, said Erik Venteris, association president.
Residents have voiced concern about the volume and speed of cut-through traffic from the shopping center, which they said increased markedly since Kroger Marketplace opened late last year. That problem was expected to be exacerbated with the recent addition of a Target store.
John Bennett, former president of the neighborhood group, said the traffic created by Graceland now is greater than it has been in the past.
"It's changed somewhat," he said. "We used to get traffic from the shopping center mainly on weekends and on big shopping days, but now there are more cars and more people driving them."
The addition of big-box stores such as Target is "great," Bennett said, because it will "bring in all kinds of businesses," but Graceland's rebirth has a downside for Delawanda.
"It's a residential neighborhood with narrow streets and no sidewalks, and we can't be a driveway for a major shopping center like that," he said.
Bennett said he's concerned about the traffic generated not only by customers, but also by delivery trucks, despite posted signs forbidding through truck traffic.
Since a May meeting with Columbus traffic officials, "it's been a bit frustrating because the process has been very slow, but it is moving," he said.
Mary Carran Webster, assistant director of the Columbus Public Service Department, said workshops were held May 10 and 24, during which residents discussed five options aimed a deterring cut-through traffic:
*Close Milton Avenue, a north-south Delawanda street, at Graceland. The option, she said, received a favorable response from most residents, but those who did object to it had strong reservations.
*Close the drive that runs between Kroger and Target. Webster said the option was also supported and did not elicit as strong objections as closing Milton Avenue.
Still, Bennett said while this option could reduce customer traffic "quite a bit," it might increase delivery-truck traffic.
*Erect signs encouraging people to use High Street rather than traveling through the neighborhood.
*"Calm" traffic by introducing traffic circles, allowing additional parking along the streets, physically narrowing the streets or adding striping along them to give the appearance of a more-narrow road. Such efforts could be done along Milton, Rathbone or Leland avenues.
*Install speed humps along some of the neighborhood roadways. Webster said the option received a poor response from residents.
She said closing the roads, installing signs and painting striping are less expensive choices, while installing traffic circles or speed humps would be more costly.
Webster said since the meeting with the residents, the city has contacted its police, fire and refuse divisions to see how the various options could affect their ability to provide services. She said the city also has approached the Don M. Casto Organization, which owns the shopping center, to elicit its opinion on methods of reducing the amount of cut-through traffic.
She said the process has taken a few months because, "sometimes not everyone's review happens overnight."
And, said Webster, it's been only two weeks since the Target opened, too soon for any solid numbers on the traffic it has generated.
"We don't believe it's taking too long, given that the store just opened," she said.
Webster said it's also difficult to predict how many cars the new Graceland stores will generate. She said no information is available on what kind of traffic the 50-year-old shopping center generated when it was in its heyday.
"A lot of thought goes into this," she said. "We don't want to create another problem trying to fix a problem."
Webster said there is no set timeline for addressing the Delawanda traffic issue, but that work would be begun "sooner rather than later."
http://www.snponline.com/NEWS8-3/8-3_bodelawanda.htm
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Columbus Dispatch Article
Taken from the Columbus Dispatch Article
--------------
POWELL -- It's a familiar battle for this part of Delaware County: A big-box retailer wants to build a store; residents don't want it.
Four years ago, the battle was waged near the corner of Sawmill Parkway and N. Hampton Drive with a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter. That legal fight continues.
Now, a proposed 132,360-square-foot Target store at the southeast corner of Home Road and Sawmill Parkway is encountering opposition and bringing threats of litigation both from landowner DRK Realtors, the firm owned by Westerville-based developer Donald R. Kenney, and from local residents.
At its meeting Monday night, the Liberty Township Board of Trustees passed a resolution stating that the Target plans are contrary to the type of development originally envisioned by township and city officials.
"It seems to me, if I were the king of Powell, who would I rather be sued by: DRK or the citizens who elected me?" said Max Holzer, director of the Community Oversight Foundation.
The residents' group, which says it represents more than 4,700 households, is the offshoot of a smaller group formed in 2004 after plans to build the 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter were announced. The group has since expanded its focus to include development projects throughout southern Delaware County.
The Wal-Mart battle has been contentious and prolonged. Liberty Township's Board of Zoning Appeals has scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 11 to reconsider its rejection of building permits for the project. That decision dates from September 2004, when the township's zoning inspector first denied Columbus developer Charles J. Ruma's applications.
That denial has prompted lawsuits in both the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas and U.S. District Court in Columbus. Depositions in the federal case, which alleges that the township violated the constitutional rights of the 34-acre site's owners, are scheduled to be taken next month.
However, there is a big difference between the Wal-Mart and Target situations, Holzer said. His group opposes commercial development on the proposed Wal-Mart site because any project would exceed the township's limits on commercial-acreage development. The group doesn't oppose all commercial development on the proposed Target site -- just this particular type.
"The land there is zoned commercially," Holzer said. "But the zoning is specific. It's supposed to be commercial of a pedestrian scale, with community services ranging from a beauty salon to a grocery store."
A representative for DRK Realtors did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Though the Target site sits inside Powell city limits, it could be Liberty Township's more stringent zoning regulations that apply because of a 2002 agreement between the township and the city.
Part of the agreement, created because of conflict over Powell's rapid growth through annexation of township land, allows township zoning to prevail on former township parcels.
The 18.8-acre Target site was annexed into the city as part of the Golf Village devel
opment.
Powell City Manager Steve Lutz said Target's zoning certificate request was submitted to the city on Aug. 6 and no variances were requested in its building plan. The city has 30 days to respond, Lutz said.
If the developer or the residents don't like the outcome, Lutz said, they will have 20 days to then file an appeal with the city's Board of Zoning Appeals.
And if they don't like that decision, it's on to common pleas court.
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2007/08/22/Target.ART_ART_08-22-07_C10_TR7M94S.html?sid=101
--------------
POWELL -- It's a familiar battle for this part of Delaware County: A big-box retailer wants to build a store; residents don't want it.
Four years ago, the battle was waged near the corner of Sawmill Parkway and N. Hampton Drive with a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter. That legal fight continues.
Now, a proposed 132,360-square-foot Target store at the southeast corner of Home Road and Sawmill Parkway is encountering opposition and bringing threats of litigation both from landowner DRK Realtors, the firm owned by Westerville-based developer Donald R. Kenney, and from local residents.
At its meeting Monday night, the Liberty Township Board of Trustees passed a resolution stating that the Target plans are contrary to the type of development originally envisioned by township and city officials.
"It seems to me, if I were the king of Powell, who would I rather be sued by: DRK or the citizens who elected me?" said Max Holzer, director of the Community Oversight Foundation.
The residents' group, which says it represents more than 4,700 households, is the offshoot of a smaller group formed in 2004 after plans to build the 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter were announced. The group has since expanded its focus to include development projects throughout southern Delaware County.
The Wal-Mart battle has been contentious and prolonged. Liberty Township's Board of Zoning Appeals has scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 11 to reconsider its rejection of building permits for the project. That decision dates from September 2004, when the township's zoning inspector first denied Columbus developer Charles J. Ruma's applications.
That denial has prompted lawsuits in both the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas and U.S. District Court in Columbus. Depositions in the federal case, which alleges that the township violated the constitutional rights of the 34-acre site's owners, are scheduled to be taken next month.
However, there is a big difference between the Wal-Mart and Target situations, Holzer said. His group opposes commercial development on the proposed Wal-Mart site because any project would exceed the township's limits on commercial-acreage development. The group doesn't oppose all commercial development on the proposed Target site -- just this particular type.
"The land there is zoned commercially," Holzer said. "But the zoning is specific. It's supposed to be commercial of a pedestrian scale, with community services ranging from a beauty salon to a grocery store."
A representative for DRK Realtors did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Though the Target site sits inside Powell city limits, it could be Liberty Township's more stringent zoning regulations that apply because of a 2002 agreement between the township and the city.
Part of the agreement, created because of conflict over Powell's rapid growth through annexation of township land, allows township zoning to prevail on former township parcels.
The 18.8-acre Target site was annexed into the city as part of the Golf Village devel
opment.
Powell City Manager Steve Lutz said Target's zoning certificate request was submitted to the city on Aug. 6 and no variances were requested in its building plan. The city has 30 days to respond, Lutz said.
If the developer or the residents don't like the outcome, Lutz said, they will have 20 days to then file an appeal with the city's Board of Zoning Appeals.
And if they don't like that decision, it's on to common pleas court.
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2007/08/22/Target.ART_ART_08-22-07_C10_TR7M94S.html?sid=101
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Residents Protest Building of Superstore - MSNBC
POWELL, Ohio -- Residents in a Central Ohio community gathered at a meeting Wednesday to protest developers who are trying to build a major department store in their neighborhood.
Target proposed building a new store located off Home Road in Powell, NBC 4's Tacoma Newsome reported.
Residents claimed to have gathered more than 400 signatures opposing the store.
According to neighbors, zoning laws only allow for buildings less than 65,000 square feet. The new target store would be larger than 100,000 square feet, Newsome reported.
Neighbors fear that the building of the superstore will chafe the image of the city.
"Most of the community is based on pedestrian friendly environments," JoAnna Braun, a Powell resident said. "You can't have pedestrians and bikes running around in the middle of a regional superstore."
No decision was made at last night's meeting.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for more information.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20297302/
Target proposed building a new store located off Home Road in Powell, NBC 4's Tacoma Newsome reported.
Residents claimed to have gathered more than 400 signatures opposing the store.
According to neighbors, zoning laws only allow for buildings less than 65,000 square feet. The new target store would be larger than 100,000 square feet, Newsome reported.
Neighbors fear that the building of the superstore will chafe the image of the city.
"Most of the community is based on pedestrian friendly environments," JoAnna Braun, a Powell resident said. "You can't have pedestrians and bikes running around in the middle of a regional superstore."
No decision was made at last night's meeting.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for more information.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20297302/
Off Target - Delaware Gazette
Off Target
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
John RoepkeStaff Writer
Following up on last Wednesday’s Community Economic Development Agreement (CEDA) meeting, numerous members of the Community Oversight Foundation filled Liberty Township Hall Monday.
The residents were at the trustees’ meeting to implore the board to rail against the construction of a Target store in the Golf Village development, which is technically in the City of Powell but under the zoning of the township.
Robert Mann, legal chair of the Community Oversight Foundation (COF), said the proposed 65,000-square-foot business represents the “big box development” the township residents have been fighting against for years.
Community Oversight Foundation member Jon Bennehoof said the township’s infrastructure is “woefully inadequate” to handle the increased traffic the store would generate.
“Eight studies in Central Ohio have shown ‘big box development has a negative impact on the community,” he said.
Mann reiterated the COF’s position that Powell approving the development plan without first going before city council for public hearings is “not the proper procedure.”
The township agreed that they weren’t in favor of the plan being reviewed and approved by Powell Development Director David Betz.
“We want Powell to take this through the zoning process,” Sybert said.
Mann and Bennehoof were preaching to the choir. The trustees said they weren’t in favor of the Target store in Golf Village and they want to keep the zoning of the development the same as when CEDA was adopted.
He requested the trustees send a letter to Powell City Council reminding them “they can’t permit Target without an agreement from Liberty Township.”
The trustees were in agreement with Mann and the residents, but went one step further and passed a resolution asking that Powell not permit the construction of the Target store because it violates CEDA.
The resolution was to be reviewed by the township’s legal counsel and sent to Powell City Council before today’s 7:30 p.m. meeting at the Village Green Municipal Complex, 47 Hall St.
jroepke@delgazette.com
http://www.delgazette.com/local.asp
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
John RoepkeStaff Writer
Following up on last Wednesday’s Community Economic Development Agreement (CEDA) meeting, numerous members of the Community Oversight Foundation filled Liberty Township Hall Monday.
The residents were at the trustees’ meeting to implore the board to rail against the construction of a Target store in the Golf Village development, which is technically in the City of Powell but under the zoning of the township.
Robert Mann, legal chair of the Community Oversight Foundation (COF), said the proposed 65,000-square-foot business represents the “big box development” the township residents have been fighting against for years.
Community Oversight Foundation member Jon Bennehoof said the township’s infrastructure is “woefully inadequate” to handle the increased traffic the store would generate.
“Eight studies in Central Ohio have shown ‘big box development has a negative impact on the community,” he said.
Mann reiterated the COF’s position that Powell approving the development plan without first going before city council for public hearings is “not the proper procedure.”
The township agreed that they weren’t in favor of the plan being reviewed and approved by Powell Development Director David Betz.
“We want Powell to take this through the zoning process,” Sybert said.
Mann and Bennehoof were preaching to the choir. The trustees said they weren’t in favor of the Target store in Golf Village and they want to keep the zoning of the development the same as when CEDA was adopted.
He requested the trustees send a letter to Powell City Council reminding them “they can’t permit Target without an agreement from Liberty Township.”
The trustees were in agreement with Mann and the residents, but went one step further and passed a resolution asking that Powell not permit the construction of the Target store because it violates CEDA.
The resolution was to be reviewed by the township’s legal counsel and sent to Powell City Council before today’s 7:30 p.m. meeting at the Village Green Municipal Complex, 47 Hall St.
jroepke@delgazette.com
http://www.delgazette.com/local.asp
Friday, August 17, 2007
Additional Information
We encourage you to review some of the information in the links below on the impact of having a Target Store built in Powell.
http://www.newrules.org/retail/econimpact.html
http://www.regionalconnections.org/documents/pdf/fiscalimpacts.pdf
http://www.newrules.org/retail/policefactsheet.pdf
http://www.newrules.org/retail/econimpact.html
http://www.regionalconnections.org/documents/pdf/fiscalimpacts.pdf
http://www.newrules.org/retail/policefactsheet.pdf
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