Granville Sentinel - February 6, 2006
"A Constitution Without A Country"
Economic development district lacks one ingredient: land
By Brian Miller

The Owens Corning Science & Technology Center campus sprawls over 524 acres of woods, fields, and ponds. Twenty-two laboratory and shop-type buildings dot the landscape. It is a huge expanse, already in use by a business with water and sewer service either in place or nearby.

For Granville Township trustee Jim Havens, the Owens Corning property is a piece of prime real estate on which to locate a Joint Economic Development District. Havens is the township's representative in negotiations on forming a JEDD.

The township and village have worked out a tentative agreement on rules to guide the district, to which they hope to attract businesses that would generate revenue for the Granville School District. But they lack one essential ingredient: land to put it on.

"We have a constitution, but we don't have a country," said Havens.

Owens Corning isn't ready to say whether it would allow a JEDD on its land. It is in the midst of putting together its own plan on how to make the center - whose workforce has shrunk considerably since its peak in the mid-1980s - economically viable, says Frank O'Brien-Bernini, vice president for science and technology.

"We are not clear whether having a JEDD within the campus would help or hurt," he said.

A couple of other parcels have come up for consideration, but they haven't worked out.

"Nothing is imminent," said Havens.

In two years of meetings, Havens and Village Councilwoman Constance Barsky, the village's representative, have hammered out a 25-page JEDD proposal. A JEDD is an economic development mechanism already used by many communities in Ohio. It provides a readily developable site and a predictable process for development. Water and sewer from the village would be guaranteed to businesses locating in the JEDD, as long as they meet its standards.

But the JEDD must have at least one parcel in order to be put before the trustees and Village Council for a vote, says Barsky.

Planners have identified the township's southwest quadrant, which is split by Ohio 16, as the best location for the JEDD. They hope for a piece of land big enough to locate a research park with good access to water and sewer. The zoning must either be business or, if non-business, identified in the comprehensive plan as an area that makes sense for non-residential use, Havens said.

The Owens Corning land meets all those tests. That's why the undeveloped part of site is so desirable for a JEDD. Havens said the best scenario would be businesses building new buildings rather than moving into existing buildings on the site. That would result in more revenue for the school district.

Said Granville Area Chamber of Commerce president Barbara Hammond: "The first thing is to figure out what it takes to make Owens Corning a part of the puzzle."

One other site is still on the JEDD radar screen, according to Havens. The 45-acre Spring Valley Co. property at Ohio 16 and Ohio 37 is commercially zoned and accessible to water and sewer. But the owners of the property want to keep open the option of building condos or a senior retirement community on at least part of the land. Residential housing is not permitted in the JEDD.

"Condos or senior retirement community might fit well," said Ned Roberts, acting president of the Spring Valley Co. "It depends on who buys the land."

An 8-acre parcel opposite the Kendal at Granville retirement community on Ohio 16 was also discussed, but Havens said the topography, current zoning (residential) and neighborhood opposition pose serious obstacles to it being part of the JEDD. Richard Pinkerton, owner of Pinkerton Real Estate Service and agent for the owner of the property, said the owner hopes to develop the land with offices if he can get it rezoned. If he is successful, he might ask for its inclusion in the JEDD, if that helps market it for development.

Even without those two parcels, there is plenty of additional land in the southwest quadrant available for the JEDD, although some of it would have to be rezoned. Even a small parcel, says Havens, would be enough to get the JEDD started, although it would probably remain a pilot project - unapproved by the township and village - until a bigger parcel is incorporated into it.

"I talk to people all over and try to get them interested in locating businesses here," said Havens.

Hammond says the chamber is willing to help hunt for land for the JEDD if asked.

"If they approached the chamber or Community Connections formally we absolutely would render assistance," she said. Community Connections is an effort by the village, township, businesses and the school district to help the school district's tax base, chiefly by attracting new businesses to the community.

To the school district, the new businesses will mean revenue at a time when student enrollment increases are putting a burden on its finances.

"It creates an environment in which you have a better tax base and you don't have to rely solely on residential taxes," said Andy Crawford, president of the Granville Board of Education.

Charlie Metzger, the retired owner of an advertising business, hopes the JEDD succeeds. He supports the idea of bringing in businesses to relieve the tax burden on residents. He and his wife, Fleur, have lived in the community for 34 years. Rising property taxes are a big concern.

"They may be taxing us to the point we may have to leave the community," he said.