Two key factors for future development in central Ohio and Delaware County are on the table in Columbus.The first, and more pressing, is that the Ohio EPa has returned with its second attempt at regulating building within the Olentangy watershed. The first effort, which was proposed last summer, asked for a 900-foot set-back from all water-outlets that drained into the Olentangy River. The large amount of set-back wasn’t very well received by lots of landowners in the area as many of Delaware’s developments would suddenly become unable to be built upon.
I totally support there being more control over the Olentangy watershed, but am concerned about the impact on the acreage – especially that already plotted for developments – by EPA standards. There are public meetings slated, though I can’t find a link, that will address this in the next couple of weeks.
The second is that the Ohio legislature has reopened discussion on a state-wide residential sewage plan. The old rules – House Bill 231 – went into effect January 2007 and were out by the middle of the year.
One of the keys of it being repealed was that would have to rewritten by January 2009. Well a new committee, led by Senator Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) is taking the task on.
They’ve promised to be open-minded and attempt to keep some level of control at the local level, but we’ll see.
Not a lot of “hard” news, but a lot to keep your eyes out for in the next couple of months – especially if you want to buy land for building your dream home or investment.
Photograph by Toby Boyce (c) 2008 and is the stream that runs through most of central Delaware.
