After hearing traffic concerns from nearby residents, the Mount Vernon City Council approved the development plan for Highland Real Estate for a 477-unit residential development along Newark Road.
The council approved the PND Comprehensive Development Plan on a 5-1 vote for the property on the western side of Newark Road, immediately south of the Mohaven subdivision and north of Irish Hills Golf Club. Councilmember Mike Hillier opposed the measure, which the Municipal Planning Commission approved on Jan. 12.
Gary Smith of GQ Planning and Design disputed the rumors that the developer would take neighboring property to make traffic improvements for the development. He said that as the developer, they don’t even have that power, which rests with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the city.
“I just wanted to be clear with everybody," Smith said. "There will be no eminent domain of any property as a result of this. I’m not going to take anybody’s front yard, anybody’s trees, anything like that."
According to an ODOT traffic study, reducing the speed limit on State Route 13-Newark Road was not warranted, Smith said. However, he said he would support any effort the city makes to lower the speed.
Tim Burton of Brookwood Road said his concern is not what this development will do, but that the increased traffic will require future road widening that will take residents’ property.
Rick Kettell of Meadowbrook Drive, whose property is north of the planned Liberty Crossing development, asked how it will affect Delano Run, a stream bordering his property.
City Engineer Brian Ball said the development must meet all requirements of the U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA, FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local regulations, as well as capture the runoff.
Councilmember John Francis said Mount Vernon hasn’t had housing growth for a long time.
“The hope is that whatever happens, we’ll draw that industry back into the city and make it vibrant," Francis said. "It’s a great city. It is a vibrant city, but we need employment."
Law director intern position approved
The City Council approved the creation of a law director intern, a part-time position at $12 per hour for a maximum of 40 hours per week for 10 weeks during June, July and August.
Law Director Rob Broeren said they hope to get residents who are back from college to apply. They are recruiting at schools beyond Mount Vernon. Still, they want a resident who is interested in government law so that they can learn what Broeren's office does for the government, both in criminal prosecution and civil work.
Resolution urges restoration of local government fund
At Mayor Matt Starr’s request, the City Council approved a resolution asking Ohio’s governor and General Assembly to restore the Local Government Fund to 3.6% of state General Revenue Funds.
In 2011, the fund was cut to 1.66%. The lost revenue for 2018 was $313,435, according to the resolution.
Police department disposing of surplus vehicles
The City Council authorized Safety Service Director Rick Dzik to dispose of vehicles the police department does not need anymore. The vehicles range from 2002 to 2018 cars, SUVs and vans to a boat, a bike, an electric bike and a dirt bike.
CDBG Stump/Northview project bids sought
The Stump-Northview Road water and sewer project will go out for bids after it was approved by the City Council. For the project, the city has been awarded $526,000 in a Community Development Block Grant and $200,000 from the Ohio Public Works Commission.
City consultant Emily Platt said that the city’s share for the project is $247,000 for water and $50,000 for wastewater.
The total cost for the project will be approximately $1.1 million, including funds set aside to pay for the service lines for low- to moderate-income households, she said.
“When we’re done, all that the federal aid will allow us to do is to repair the trenches where we’ve dug out the pipes,” Ball said. “But then you have kind of a Frankenstein road. Our goal is that we would repair it to base or intermediate asphalt, and then the township would come back and do a totally new topcoat.”
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