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03/06/2018

Executive Director's Report - Tuesday, March 6

Builders and Developers' Council Meeting Tomorrow - Wednesday, March 7 at 3:30 p.m.

You are invited to tomorrow's meeting. This meeting will be important to shaping our response to OEPA proposed general permit for stormwater management. If you cannot attend, but as a developer, you want to provide input in to our position, contact me as soon as possible. This proposal will impact single family, as well as multi-family and other commercial activity. And it will impact in-fill and green-field projects.

Agenda items include

  1. OEPA Draft of New Stormwater General Permit
  2. OEPA Central Ohio Compliance Issues
  3. Ohio Legislature: HB 371 to prohibit tax re-evaluation prior to sale or construction
  4. Powell: Proposed Radon System Requirement
  5. Grove City: Stormwater Basin Standards & Bike Path/Street Terminus
  6. Delaware County TID’s
  7. Delaware Preservation Parks Open Space Proposal
  8. Olentangy Watershed – Open Space Mapping Initiative
  9. US Postal Service: CBU Guidelines
  10. Licking County Development Issues/SWLCWS
  11. Fairfield County Development Issues – meeting with Engineer Jeremiah Upp and Regional Planning Director Loudan Klein
  12. BIA Affordability Study

If you have additional items for the agenda, let me know. And if you are planning to attend the meeting, please reply to this email.

Powell Considers Mandatory Radon System

City Council is considering mandating installation of a radon mitigation system in all new construction. We will be discussing our response at the Builders/Developers' Council meeting. If you build in Powell and cannot attend the meeting, contact me with your input on this proposal. 

Hilliard: City Manager

The development related challenges among political leaders in Hilliard continue. Several Council members are now looking to by-pass the City's Charter Review Commission and direct a Council ballot proposal to eliminate the current "Mayor/Council" form of government and replace it with a "City Manager" structure. We will be continuing to monitor and engage with Hilliard leadership.

Development Related Stories from Area Weekly Newspapers

 

NAHB Update on Latest "Waters of the US" Saga

There is a new development in the never-ending saga that is the 2015 Clean Water Rule. Today, the 6th Circuit took the formal action of vacating its temporary injunction and dismissing all of the challenges to the rule.

Soon after the rule was finalized by the Obama Administration, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary injunction ensuring that the so-called “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule would not be enforced. The court also issued a ruling proclaiming that it had jurisdiction to hear all of the challenges to the rule.

On Jan. 22, the Supreme Court overruled the 6th Circuit, explaining that the initial challenges to the WOTUS rule must be heard in the federal district (trial) courts.

But not to fear: The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers saw this coming. So on Feb. 6, the agencies finalized a rule called Definition of “Waters of the United States”—Addition of an Applicability Date to 2015 Clean  Water Rule.” This rule adds an applicability date to the 2015 WOTUS Rule of Feb. 6, 2020.  Thus, the WOTUS rule is not to be applied until 2020.

Between now and 2020, NAHB will work with the Administration to craft a new WOTUS rule that does not exceed the bounds of the Clean Water Act and provides the clarity that our members need. For additional information, contact Tom Ward.

Reminder:  Columbus Building and Zoning Services Moves to New Building on March 12

The official date for the opening of the new location for the department will be March 12. See the announcement below. Note that it is the City's intention that the counter and full services will be open at the current location through the close of business on March 9, so there will be no days when the counter will be closed.

The newly completed Michael B. Coleman Government Center includes a street-level concourse to better serve our customers. The “one-stop shop” consolidates four City departments: Building & Zoning Services, Public Service, Development and a portion of Public Utilities. The central location will create operational efficiency for the City and streamlined conveniences for residents requiring assistance from multiple departments in one visit.

Building and Zoning Services will have a prominent location on the first two floors of the new building located at 111 North Front Street to better serve you.

Beginning on March 12, 2018, BZS customers that need to visit the BZS offices will need to travel to the new building at North Front Street and West Long Street to obtain permits and turn in plans.  Eligible applicants can still obtain numerous permits through the online services on our web page.

Free parking is available in the parking garage located just north of our building accessed from West Long Street.  In addition, a surface lot is provided for larger construction vehicles.  We have placed a link to a map on our home pagewww.Columbus.gov/BZS to better orient you to the area.

If you have any questions or need additional information, contact the BZS offices at 614-645-7433.

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