Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I see the cast of charactors remain the same but have now moved into Columbus.

Joyce moves to Columbus and Tom Hart is close behind trying to dump on them like he did Pickerington.

In the next posting I have cut and pasted the article from the Columbus Dispatch this morning. Notice they talk about city expesnes then go to TIFs and never do they consider the school system. why do these builders think their houses sell? Is it because their houses are so wonderful? They also claim to build neighborhoods in thei ads. Neigborhoods are built by the residents that live there, not the bulders. They should get these guys for false advertizing. Please add to the expesne list that they found to include. Pleae remember ickerington Violet Township and Canal Winchester are spending millions to widen Diley Road.

Pay as little as they can!

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/05/20/20040520-D1-01.html

''The city and county are saying they don?’t have the money to pay upfront,'' Franklin County Engineer Dean Ringle said.


The three developers of the proposed subdivisions between Dublin and Hilliard ?— which could hold the population of Grandview Heights ?— have told the city and county they want to start paying for the improvements in three or four years, Ringle said.

That?’s too long, he said.
''We?’re making sure that, for what?’s being proposed, the developers are putting their fair share into agreed-upon improvements,'' Ringle said.
The cost of improving roads in the area could hit $40 million, said Mike Reese, Columbus?’ deputy director of regional growth.
Ringle said three traffic projects need to be completed in the next three to five years:
?• An improved intersection at Hayden Run and Cosgray roads ?— $12.5 million.
?• An improved intersection at Hayden Run and Avery roads ?— $5.5 million.
?• A new connector road north of Hayden Run Road between Cosgray and Avery roads ?— $5 million.
Others could come later.
Developers also are to help pay for police and fire stations, parks and other public ser- vices for the proposed houses, condominiums and apartments near Hayden Run and Cosgray roads in northewestern Franklin County.
City officials and Tom Hart, vice president of governmental affairs for one of the three developers, Dominion Homes, said they couldn?’t talk about negotiation specifics.
Hart said developers are concerned these costs would boost housing prices.
''We?’re a business,'' Hart said. ''We?’re trying to sell houses that are appropriately priced.'' Condominiums and homes are to be priced between $125,000 and $200,000, he said.
M/I Schottenstein Homes and Lifestyle Communities are the other two developers
''We?’re trying real hard to meet the mayor?’s pay as you grow (policy),'' Hart said.
The administration views this development as a pilot project for Mayor Michael B. Coleman?’s new policy that would require developers to help pay for public improvements.
In this case, improvements would be built as developers build the housing.
Ringle said the parties have talked about a tax-increment financing district that would raise $28 million to pay for improvements. In this type of district, property taxes the development generates are used to pay for the improvements
Ringle said that would reimburse the developers for their upfront costs.
Suburban officials and residents have criticized the proposed developments for being too dense and creating too much traffic.

Dublin City Manager Jane Brautigam said she wants to see the developers pay their fair share. But she remains concerned about how this and future development will burden the area?’s roads.
The Development Commission is scheduled to take up zoning changes on May 27 that would allow the developments.
But Reese indicated the vote could be pushed back again if an agreement between the developers and government isn?’t worked out.
''We?’re not going to force this,'' Reese said.
But Ringle said, ''We can?’t drag this out forever.''
Before the Development Commission meeting, the Columbus City Council has scheduled a public hearing on the Hayden Run corridor plan for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
mferenchik@dispatch.com

Pay for the damages

Dear Mr. Hart and the entire BIA association:

I know you are now in a death grip with the new policies that the City of Columbus has put forward in its ?“Pay as you grow program.?” However to get sympathy from readers of the Columbus Dispatch many of whom live in Pickerington will not work with us. You and your legions have sued the City of Pickerington for millions in perceived loses to your ?“INVESTMENTS?” into our community. Your have not invested one thin dime into our community. You and your investors have carried away millions to your homes in Dublin, New Albany and Bexley. Demanding one standard here and a different standard in the community where you pay your taxes and have your homes and where your children attend school.

While Columbus, being the Big Boy on the block, complains of the $40 million in road improvements needed BEFORE you build your 1600 new homes you continue to pursue the law suit with Pickerington and I understand it is scheduled for trial on June 7th.

Even if the BIA is successful in wining its claims against The City of Pickerington do you really think your fight will be over here in Pickerington? You filed that suit to bully us and make bend to your will. You have made claims in that suit that portray you and the BIA as the poor underdogs here. Yet as I read the local papers I see where Residents along Long Road have flooding problems. Much appears to have been created by RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS and THEIR DEVELOPMENTS. The City is spending $6 Million to widen Diley Road. This is a direct result of you and your developers and how do you say it ?“trying to build affordable homes.?” Our school needs two elementary schools NOW!!! That will come in around $28 million. Long Road as a direct result of your uncontrolled building needs to be widened to three lanes and that should have been done years ago. Just the improvements to Long Road and addressing the flooding issues comes in around $15 million. I haven?’t included anything about Violet Township request for $7 million in road improvements that they must wait for a grant from the state.

Including what the state and federal government is putting into the road improvements the cost of the BIA and these other builders ?“trying to make money and trying to build affordable homes.?” Comes to around $70 million.

Let me tell you and your BIA friends that Pickerington Tax Payers are the highest voted in taxing district in Fairfield County. Our schools are over crowed, our roads are over crowed, we have traffic problems every where and your solution is to simply to raise our owns taxes once more so you and your investors can once again reap the benefits of uncontrolled residential development and walk away.

My message to you Mr. Hart and your BIA friends is simply go to hell!!


By Concerned Dad

Letters to the Editor

Concerned Dad,

Wouldn't it be much more effective if you penned your dismay toward Mr. Hart and the developers through a Letter to the Editor to one of the many local newspapers rather then the limited audience reached by this message board?

* Columbus Dispatch
* Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
* This Week in Pickerington
* Pickerington Times-Sun
* Southeast Messenger