On Oct. 7, the council voted 4-3 to seek a Clean Ohio Fund grant expected to cover most of the purchase price for the land. This would leave the city with a “1-mile forested corridor” while also providing for extension of the city bike trail - and protecting the habitat of the endangered Indiana bat - according to the grant application.
A key issue in the debate was whether the local government should be taking private land off the tax rolls and eliminating the prospect of commercial development.
“I don’t believe you can ever have enough green space,” Mayor Amy Brewer said before the second vote, enabling the city to make the application ahead of the state deadline.
The vote reversed the Sept. 23 decision rejecting the staff recommendation to apply for the grant, expected to cost the city $10,625 of the $450,000 purchase price. Staff had negotiated the sale, contingent on council approval.
With the grant money - and $20,000 from the Harmon Trust - the city plans to buy the land from the Leathery Company and enlarge the preserve into a 40-acre park where hiking and biking trails are to be added.
Leathery is expected to use the money from the sale for renovation and parking lot paving at Colony Square, an aging shopping center along the bypass, a point noted by several council members.
The majority also backed the purchase as a way to prevent the land from being developed as apartments, possibly for low-income residents.
Councilman Mark Messer said he changed sides - and vote- in the debate partly because the land would be removed from the city’s inventory of land zoned for multi-family use. In a text message, he described the decision as a “no brainer” because it would also help ensure the revitalization of Colony Square.
The opposition was led by council members Stephen Kaiser and Matt Rodriguez. They questioned whether the city should be buying more park land, particularly land that could become commercial development. They also opposed use of a grant restricting future use indefinitely.
“If we take this grant money, we’re tied into this forever,” Kaiser said, adding that he regretted voting for previous park grants through the Clean Ohio program due to the restrictions.
Rodriguezsuggested the land could be rezoned and developed as commercial property to create economic development and taxes for the city.
Councilwoman Wendy Monroe also voted against the purchase. Joining Messer and Brewer were council members Jim Dearie and Jim Norris.
“I think we should be about as much about green space as much as we can be,” Norris said.
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