FOREST HILLS
JOURNAL
Your Community Press newspaper serving Anderson Township, California, Mount Washington, Newtown
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2013
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BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
Anderson sets goals, vision for Ancor area By Lisa Wakeland lwakeland@communitypress.com
Construction on the former River Downs racetrack, now Belterra Park, is progressing. The racino, seen here looking west on Kellogg Avenue, is expected to open in May. LISA WAKELAND/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Anderson Twp., Pinnacle strike an annexation deal By Lisa Wakeland lwakeland@communitypress.com
Anderson Township has struck a deal with owners of the former River Downs racetrack. Trustees recently approved a cooperative agreement with property owners Pinnacle Entertainment that says the company will not seek annexation to any municipal corporation for at least 20 years. In exchange, Anderson Township will give Pinnacle $500,000 from its tax increment financing fund to help with demolition costs of the former racetrack and grandstand. “I think there is no question that the investment Pinnacle is making will inure to the longterm benefit of all property owners along Anderson’s southern border ... (and) in the long range, everyone who lives in this community, ” Trustee Russ Jackson said. “It would not have been in the best interest of our taxpayers to provide any business with these kind of funds without some assurance that they would not be move to another community at a later time.” Pinnacle recently announced the former River Downs would now be Belterra
This elevation drawing shows the new River Downs building on Kellogg Avenue, looking west, with the grandstand attached on the left side. PROVIDED
Park Gaming & Entertainment Center, a name its owners say more aptly describes the new facility that will reopen May 1. Pinnacle also owns the Belterra Casino Resort in Indiana. “This would facilitate the development of Betlerra Park, and the investment will provide a tremendous benefit to the township,” Township Administrator Vicky Earhart said of the cooperative agreement. It’s expected Pinnacle, which bought the property in 2011, will invest more than $300 million in the new facility and bring close to 700 jobs to the township, Earhart said. In addition to live horse racing, the new Belterra Park will have1,600 video slot machines, three sit-down restaurants and three other snack and beverage outlets. The racino also will have a 4,000-square-foot event space for meetings. The annexation clause of
the agreement is particularly important because Anderson Township has faced recent annexation attempts and is working with state lawmakers to get rules changed. At the heart of the issue is whether publicly owned land gives townships and their taxpayers a say in annexation. The law, as it’s written now, does not give political subdivisions a seat at the table. Ohio Rep. Peter Statutberg (R-27th District), who represents Anderson Township, recently introduced a bill that would bring annexation rules back to where they were more than a decade ago. The original intent of the law was to not allow townships to use roadways to block annexations, but the wording meant cemeteries, parks, greenspace and other public
FOOD
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See DEAL, Page A2
Anderson Township has a new vision for its northeastern area. The township Board of Trustees on Nov. 21 adopted the Ancor plan update. The area – near Round Bottom, Mt. Carmel and Broadwell roads – is a mix of industry, residential and park land bound by the Little Miami River on one side. “I think we were unified in our vision ... and we wanted to take advantage of opportunities to develop that area in a way that builds the economic base,” said township resident Chris Curran, who was a member of the plan update steering committee. While some committee members disagreed about a few land use designations, Curran said they acknowledged many factors were out of their control, such as the fate of the Martin Marietta mine proposal and the plans for the Eastern Corridor road and light rail plans. Even though there are still unknowns, “that does not mean we have to sit still waiting for these things to unfold,” she said, and suggested an implementation and coordination team to attract medical, government, technology or education businesses to Ancor. Cathy Burger, who lives in the Ancor area and was part of the steering committee, said
many properties there are for sale, which “can give Anderson an opportunity to try and pull in other businesses that may be able to create jobs and stimulate economic development in the area.” It took more than a year for committee members and township staff to work through the plan update, which was last completed in 1994. Gary Meisner, one of the consultants helping with the plan, highlighted some of the major points during a presentation to the trustees. These include: » A strong desire to conserve the hillsides, greenspace and river. » Designating a core industry area around Broadwell Road where there are many existing businesses. » Improving access to the area via the Ancor connector. There are several possible alignments being considered to link state Route 32 with Broadwell Road. » New land use for “transitoriented development,” if a proposed light rail station is built. » Enhancing bike paths along Round Bottom Road for access to the parks, greenspace, lakes and river. » Improving safety along Round Bottom Road while maintaining scenic views. » Creating general mixed use designations for certain See ANCOR, Page A2
The Ancor area in Anderson Township is bound on one side by the Little Miami River, seen here from Riverside Park on Round Bottom Road. Better road access could create more recreational opportunities along the river and keep truck traffic from businesses away from parks, greenspace and residential areas. FILE PHOTO
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