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Greenville City Council…
Zoning
legislation to be prepared for vote Aug. 7
Council President Burkett voted “yea” to break a 3-3 tie
By Bob Robinson
GREENVILLE - “That’s the property we are willing to invest our money
in,” said Ramsey Development’s Tim Huber. “If we can’t build there I
guess we don’t build in Greenville.”
Following a Public Hearing where the Council room was packed with
supporters for Trilogy Healthcare, Greenville City Council President
John Burkett heard a motion from Councilman Roy Harrison to draw up
legislation to change the zoning of a 6.41 acre tract at Russ Road and
Hwy 121 from GB (General Business) to SU (Special Use).
Just prior to opening the meeting for public comments, a half dozen
people had to move from the Chamber into the hallway due to the Fire
Marshall’s 60-person limit being exceeded. Burkett suggested hearing
from someone “for,” followed by someone “against.”
No one was against. No opposition was stated during the public hearing.
Council heard several more comments “for,” then Burkett closed the
public hearing portion. Harrison made his motion.
Councilman Tracy Tryon asked Harrison the reason for it. Is it because
this a good thing, he asked, or because of public sentiment or the City
Plan that has been in place for the last 20 years? Harrison responded
that he drives by an empty lot every day.
“It’s a chance for jobs,” he said, then noted that he hasn’t seen
anybody moving forward on the property under the current plan.
Greenville Mayor Mike Bowers, Chairman of the Planning & Zoning
Commission, said that the Commission looked at the issue only as a
re-zoning consideration. He said there is no doubt that Trilogy Health
Care would be a success anywhere, and the City really wants them in
Greenville.
“Looking at long-term growth we had to determine if this was the
‘highest best use’ of the land,” he said. Bowers said the City Plan
designated the ‘best use’ would be in commercial development. He added,
however, that the decision was the Council’s and that the Commission
would support that decision.
Councilman Todd Oliver said that he had done some research and said
that many of the designations in the Plan had historically not been
followed. He later said that he would prefer that the motion be tabled
for further discussion.
Burkett said the motion was simply to prepare the Legislation. That
would have to be voted on in August, then called for the vote on the
motion. Oliver, Tryon and Councilman Leon Rogers voted no, resulting in
a 3-3 vote (Councilman Doug Schmidt was not present to vote).
Burkett broke the tie with a “yea” vote.
He noted that when the legislation was prepared, it would require a
“super-majority” 5-2 vote to pass.
At that point, Huber asked for permission to speak. He said that in
addition to the people in this room, there were 28 people out in the
hall, adding that he’d never seen this much support in the Public
Hearings he’s attended.
“They want to see this happen,” he said. “We looked at 10 pieces of
property, every other site available in this community.”
He said they weren’t able to find a better site, then added that this
project will invest $8 million in the community, use 60 contractors and
result in jobs for 50 people at Trilogy.
“We don’t borrow money for the properties we build,” he said. “We use
our own money. Consequently we are very particular where we spend it.
That’s the site we want.”
After the hearing, Huber indicated his discouragement. He expressed his
concern that the chances of passage were marginal...
“If we can’t build there I guess we don’t build in Greenville,” he said.
In a phone conversation later with Bowers, the Mayor said that he and
Marc Saluk work “very hard” to attract businesses to Greenville and
Darke County and that he very much wanted Trilogy to make its home
here. The decision of the Commission was simply on its interpretation
of the tract’s ‘highest best use' potential.
Bowers didn’t indicate that he was aware of the sites Ramsey
Development had looked at but believed there were options, including
possible annexations, that could meet their needs just as well, if not
better.
He then reiterated that the Zoning Commission only made a
recommendation; whether or not to pass the legislation was the
Council’s decision. If they changed the zoning to SU, he and the
Commission members would do everything in their power to wrap up the
process and get things moving as quickly as possible.
Trilogy Health Services said that if the zoning does not pass, the
company will continue to look for property in Darke County.
Pictured below: (first) Ramsey Development and Trilogy Health Care
representatives talk with two members of the community, including
Dustin Leis, Leis Realty. (second) Trilogy Health Care held an Open
House at A&B Coffee Shop on South Broadway.
These articles were posted earlier on County News Online…
Trilogy Zoning Change goes to Public Hearing, click here
Robinson Opinion: Welcome Trilogy with Open Arms, click here
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