This 11 minute YouTube video from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows how a Roundabout facilitates traffic flow, pedestrian crossings and safety. This look into the future of traffic management is worth viewing for all drivers. This should allay the concerns some may have had regarding the proposed roundabout at Murray in Mariemont and the planned roundabout at Bramble in Columbia Township.
See Mike Lemon’s, Administrator For Columbia Township, comments on the bottom of the page detailing Mariemont’s lost opportunity
In 1993, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation enabling local communities to create Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDD). A JEDD agreement enables townships, cities, and
Photo by Joe Stoner, visit Joe at Joe-Stoner.com
villages to cooperatively address concerns associated with diminishing local revenues, economic development, growth, and annexation pressures. Technically, a JEDD becomes a local community approach to solving economic development issues by providing local governments the ability to enter into legal agreements that will increase revenues and create jobs. The contractual agreements, which vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, have become a significant economic development tool for local communities since JEDD authorization in 1993. Read more for clarification of the issues in regard to Mariemont and Columbia Township.
An Email received by one of the Editors at Mariemont.com expresses concerns about a JEDD. “Help me understand why the Village of Mariemont would want to get involved in leveraging earnings taxes on employees in Columbia Twp. Since Townships are prohibited from leveraging earnings taxes, currently workers are exempt from these taxes. Our involvement, other than perhaps some modest monetary self interest, creates a ‘taxation without representation’ for employees at the Promenade and Ridge / Highland. The JEDD thing seems to me to be a loophole for Townships to get around their inability to tax earnings. The employees and businesses at the Promenade, etcetera, likely aren’t wildly in favor of this. I think also that the collection of these earnings taxes would rest on Mariemont…and the Village would receive fractional compensation. It is the policy aspect (i.e., the tax loophole) that most concerns me. Your thoughts?”
Comments:
First an overview of The JEDD Legislation:
Advantages for a township
Advantages for a city or village
In the Editor’s opinion, the benefits of collaboration, consultation and cooperation attendant to a JEDD outweigh the economic benefits to both the Village of Mariemont and Columbia Township. For too long, the governance of these two entities have been at odds and it is time they begin to negotiate for the greater good on issues such as infrastructure, gentrification, shared services and long range planning.
Photo by Joe Stoner. Visit Joe at Joe-Stoner.com
In a world of shrinking budgets and rising expenses, the Village has an opportunity to receive $50,000 of new Revenue annually by Partnering with Columbia Township (sharing Mariemont’s Tax Office + agreeing to no Annexation). This agreement is called a Joint Economic Development Zone or JEDZ. Even with committed efforts by Joe Miller and Joe Stelzer on Council over many months, negotiations are unfortunately stalled, and we have only days before losing this opportunity (a neighboring community could become their Partner).
Council should meet right away to discuss the opportunity and advance a proposal, but there is no Special Meeting planned. Council’s next scheduled meeting on 7/8 will likely be too late.
Many will say a deal isn’t possible/isn’t right for the Village. You may hear some of the following comments (counter points included as well):
1) Columbia Township owes Mariemont a proposal—Any Partnership is a two way street. Can’t we initiate? Are we motivated?
2) The Township isn’t serious about partnering—The Township has engaged Mariemont for years on portions of this proposal.
3) The Township won’t accept our offer—It’s true we have no way of knowing if the Township will accept an offer to partner; this Revenue is not guaranteed.
4) We will generate more Revenue by instead Annexing Wooster Pike businesses—After a JEDZ is in place with another Partner, tax rates are cumulative and businesses will likely not allow annexation. And, Newtown, for instance, has incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in Annexation fees so far.
5) The Township’s only motivation is new apartments that will hurt Mariemont—there is no plan for apartments, and our recent rejection of the $2,000,000 grant can’t stop the Township from developing what/where they want. That said, a Partnership does give us the ability to influence Development.
6) ”We don’t need the money”—One of Council’s important jobs is to reduce Expenses and find Revenue, even if difficult. As a taxpayer, I’d like to see every dollar chased.
7) $50,000 isn’t the real number—This is a conservative estimate, definitely achievable.
8) We won’t make any money after expenses—The Township will pay for nearly all Mariemont’s additional administrative and equipment costs.
9) The amount is much lower than earlier estimates, it’s not worth it—The value of the partnership is much lower since we’ve said no to Murray 6-way intersection improvements. How much is too little, if expenses are paid by the Township?
Please press Mariemont Council and the Mayor to 1) meet this month and 2) put forth a proposal right away. Time is running out on this great opportunity for Partnership and for Revenue for our Village.
–Cortney Scheeser
Seems every day a news story appears about commercial businesses and developers getting tax abatements or incentives to develop or improve property. But what about residential property owners? Why aren’t they eligible? In Columbia Township they are!
Several years ago Columbia Township officials developed a policy of assisting businesses and residential property owners make improvements if they supported the township’s comprehensive plan. Part of that plan was to improve the housing stock in the community. Unlike most incentive programs available in the State, the Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) incentive makes assistance available to both businesses AND homeowners. Officials pursued establishing the entire township as a CRA which would aid both commercial economic development and homeowners wanting to update or improve their property. Officials included in their legislation establishing the CRA the following incentive:
“For residential properties, tax exemptions on the increase in the assessed valuation resulting from improvements as described in O.R.C. Section 3735.67 shall be granted upon proper application by the property owner and certification thereof by the designated housing officer; the percentage and term of those exemptions shall be as follows:
(a) Seventy five percent (75%) exemption for a period of ten (10) years for improvements to single family residential properties, and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least $2,500. The term for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified construction shall be one hundred (100%) for ten (10) years.
(b) Fifty percent (50%) exemption for a period of ten (10) years for construction of new single family residential properties. The term for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified construction shall be one hundred (100%) for ten (10) years.
(c) Fifty percent (50%) exemption
for a period of ten (10) years for improvements to existing multi-family residential properties, and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least $5,000. The term for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified construction shall be one hundred percent (100%) for ten (10) years.
There shall be no exemptions for the construction of new multi-family residential properties. Multi-family residential properties include any residential property, which contains two (2) to four (4) housing units. Any property containing in excess of four (4) housing units is to be classified as commercial.
Residential applications must be filed with the housing officer no later than six (6) months after construction completion.
If remodeling qualifies for an exemption, during the period of the exemption, a portion of the dollar amount of the increase in market value of the structure shall be exempt from real property taxation. If new construction qualifies for an exemption, during the period of the exemption, the exempted percentage of the structure shall not be considered an improvement on the land on which it is located for the purpose of real property taxation.
Columbia Township officials point out that only the increased value of the property resulting from the improvements can be abated. And any abatement over 50% requires school board approval. However, for anyone wanting to undertake improvements to their home – an addition, modernization of utilities, or new “green” technology – there is a financial benefit available in the form of tax abatement for up 10 years!
If you are interested in learning more about this program or want to utilize the opportunity, contact Columbia Township at 513-561-6046.
A community announcement by Mike Lemon, who is on the featured image
The entrance to the Village of Mariemont to the north is a six-way intersection where Plainville, Murray and Madisonville Road converge. At a presentation in early February, Jonathan Wiley, a transportation engineer with KZF Design, presented several options that aim to improve the flow of traffic at that intersection. In the fall, KZF engineers studied traffic patterns through the intersection and then modeled six different revisions. The two options that were the most feasible came down to a roundabout or traffic lights. Mr. Wiley stated that the current intersection does not meet today’s standards for keeping traffic moving. He acknowledged that there have been very few accidents at the intersection, and attributes it to the fact that drivers go very slowly because it is confusing and difficult to determine who should proceed next. Given all the factors, KZF determined that a roundabout is the best option for keeping traffic moving, with speeds of 18-20 miles per hour through the intersection.
Attending the presentation were representatives from businesses, the Mariemont School Board, Columbia Township, Mariemont Council, and other interested parties. Mike Lemon, Administrator of Columbia Township, spoke in favor of the roundabout as a way to improve the traffic flow and the look of the area. He reminded the group that roundabouts are common in England, and Mariemont is modeled after an English garden city. Most of the affected land lies in Columbia
Township, but there is a 10-foot easement in the Village
of Mariemont that is affected by the roundabout and a proposed bike path, and so they are seeking cooperation from the Village.
Future traffic through the area was considered, to take into account increased traffic from Emery Park and Nolen Park condominiums, as well as a proposed apartment complex. Traffic engineers estimate an eventual 15% increase in traffic and their models show that both the traffic signal plan and the roundabout plan can handle future growth. KZF estimates construction of a roundabout would take 2-3 months, with traffic maintained. Installing traffic signals would be a much easier process. Installing traffic lights was not considered the best option, however, because speed through the intersection would be fairly high (30 mph) on Plainville when the lights are green. The engineers see the roundabout plan, with “splitter islands” as also being safer for pedestrians, since they would be able to cross one lane, pause at the island and then cross another lane, reducing their exposure.
KZF has presented their findings to the five member Planning Commission that will vote sometime in March and then present the final determination to Council.
