Board seeks to expand Austin JEDD

The part of the Austin Landing development that shares income tax revenues generated by the businesses within them may expand.

The panel with oversight over much of the 142-acre retail and business complex at Austin Boulevard and Ohio 741 off Interstate 75 is seeking to add 11 acres to the zone. Property within the zone generates shared income tax funds for Miamisburg, Miami Twp. and Springboro.

Those three jurisdictions make up the Austin Center Joint Economic Development District, a partnership granted certain oversight authorities, including levying taxes.

The land proposed to become part of the JEDD is in Austin Landing’s southwest corner, said Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District Executive Director Steve Stanley, chairman of the Austin Center JEDD board.

The legislative boards of the JEDD’s three members must vote on the plan. A public hearing and a vote on the issue is scheduled for May 29, but the site has not been determined, Stanley said.

Miami Twp. and Miamisburg officials said they would have to review the details of the proposal.

The Austin Center JEDD levies a 2.25 percent income tax on all retail businesses and some offices within its boundaries, according to Miami Twp. records. That percentage is consistent with Miamisburg’s income tax rate. Springboro’s income tax rate is 1.5 percent.

How much tax revenue JEDD members would see if the expansion were approved depends on what businesses locate there, officials said.

Income tax revenues cannot be calculated “until they get everything leased and you know what is going in,” said Miami Twp. Administrator Greg Rogers, a member of the Austin Center JEDD board.

Field & Stream will locate its first Ohio site, a 50,000 square foot store, on part of the land proposed for JEDD inclusion, officials said. The subsidiary of Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc., is the only business for which Miami Twp. has seen final plans, said township Planning Director Chris Snyder.

Jeff Stickel of RG Properties, which is developing Austin Landing, said he could not comment at this time on other tenants.

The Austin Center JEDD generated nearly $180,000 in revenues in 2013, according to Miami Twp. records. It is projected to generate about $250,000 this year, records show.

If approved, this would be the fourth amendment to the Austin Center JEDD, Rogers said. A previous amendment included the bulk of Austin Landing, Snyder said.

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