MOUNT VERNON — Regional Planning Commission members green-lighted Phase 2 of Table Rock Estates on Thursday.
RPC approved the preliminary plat for the 16-lot development on Wilson Road in Hilliar Township, provided developers Jeff and Chris Hackett address three issues.
Two issues involve correcting the lot delineation line on the map and a typo in the text.
The third proviso is that the Hacketts obtain a variance on the roadway length, which RPC members ultimately granted by a 17-2 vote.
The private road leading to the parcels is 1,800 feet long and ends in a cul-de-sac. Subdivision regulations state there must be an intersection at 600 feet.
Developers must build private roadways to county specifications in case they become county roads.
The Hacketts’ solution was to include two “traffic calming bulbs” along the 1,800-foot length.
Jeff Hackett said the roundabouts promote continuity of traffic, are aesthetically pleasing, and calm traffic.
RPC chair Roger Yarman said the roundabouts are to “relieve people from having to turn around in someone’s driveway.”
“It’s still an 1800 foot road, but the unique design is trying to make it worthy,” he said.
“The county engineer has approved this. He believes a variance is in order,” Knox County Commissioner Thom Collier said. “This effectively creates an intersection and gives two opportunities to turn around.”
Collier said there was a legal discrepancy regarding who grants the variance: the commissioners or RPC. Legal counsel said the safest point was for both entities to vote.
The commissioners passed a resolution Thursday morning to approve the variance.
“I think he accommodated the nature of what was trying to be achieved,” Collier said of the Hacketts’ solution.
Table Rock Estates water and sewer
The plan calls for private sewer and water on the lots. Kyle Shackle of Knox Public Health said the lots are big enough to accommodate private services.
However, he said that if Centerburg village lifts its moratorium and extends infrastructure to the Table Rock Estates area, the Hacketts will be required to tap into the village sanitary system.
“Under state household sewage rules, if they deem it accessible, they [the village] will be the entity we have to work with,” he told the Hacketts.
Centerburg has a 1987 moratorium on the books that requires properties to be annexed into the village if they want a village sewer.
Council members gave a first reading to an ordinance repealing the moratorium at their January meeting. If council passes the legislation, property owners can hook into village sewer without annexing into the village.
If Centerburg repeals the moratorium, and a private system installed now fails after repeal, the property owner would be required to hook into Centerburg’s system.
Intel update
Area Development Foundation President Jeff Gottke briefly updated the group on Intel’s effect on the central Ohio region.
Thus far, most land transfers are related to Intel or speculators. Gottke said companies supplying parts for Intel will start moving into the area in the next year or so.
Regarding housing, the Columbus region needs 19,000 units to keep up with demand. The current build rate is 12,000.
JobsOhio expects manufacturing to almost double in the region. Sectors increasing include life science (biology, pharmacy, health and beauty), electric vehicles, and food processing.
Sectors that have slowed include office, logistics (large distribution centers), and data centers.
“We’re kind of glad about that because of the great amount of water and electricity they consume,” he said of the data centers. “But they tend to be high-paying.”
RPC Orientation
RPC held an orientation session before Thursday’s regular meeting. County Prosecutor Chip McConville said his office will issue guidance and sample resolutions regarding marijuana dispensaries and solar exclusionary zones.
