June 19, 2011
Mobile food vendor plan criticized By SARAH SOLE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
An amendment changing the way mobile food vendors operate was sent back to the Delaware City Planning Commission after it was criticized during the June 13 city council meeting. At issue is whether mobile food vendors should be allowed in the downtown
Ohio Health
YMCA proposes sublease agreement
business district. Council reviewed a planning committee recommendation about the vendors that didn’t mention the downtown. A city staff report had recommended a downtown “exclusion zone” with no mobile vendors allowed, said community development director David Efland. Several residents and business owners told council mobile food vendors should
be excluded from downtown. The proposed code changes would define mobile food vendors and provide additional restrictions, Efland told ThisWeek. Currently, mobile food vendors can operate on private property with an owner’s permission up to 30 days a year, in increments limited to three days each. They must obtain a temporary use permit from the city and pay a $25 fee. If operating
within the downtown historic district, the vendors need the approval of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. The planning commission recommendation would let a mobile food vendor operate up to 45 days downtown, without the preservation commission’s approval. Efland said the planning commission’s recommendation will now have to mention the downtown specifically.
Efland said the exclusion zone, which the city staff recommended, also would ban temporary outdoor sales and displays on property with frontage on Central Avenue and Sandusky, Spring, William, Winter, Franklin and Union streets, excluding corner properties. He told those at the meeting that moSee MOBILE, page A2
City selects architect for new fire station
‘PAINT OUT’
By SARAH SOLE
By SARAH SOLE
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Under a proposed sublease agreement between the YMCA of Central Ohio and Ohio Health, the Delaware YMCA could serve as a rehabilitation and physical therapy service center for residents. Three therapy rooms totaling about 265 square feet would be constructed next to the fitness center area within the building. The YMCA would pay for construction. The three therapy rooms would be exclusively used by Ohio Health. If the relationship proves successful, there could also be the possibility of a medical center addition. Any addition would then replace the three therapy rooms, said Paul Weber, YMCA of Central Ohio district vice president. Approval of the agreement would require Delaware City Council to amend its lease with the YMCA. Delaware community affairs coordinator Lee Yoakum said it isn’t likely that council will vote on the agreement at its next meeting. Ohio Health and YMCA affiliates got a chance to speak with council members about the proposal during a council meeting on June 13. A physical addition to the building for a partnership with Ohio Health was contemplated from the start, city manager Tom Homan said, and the agreement will formalize the plan. “It really is about an integrated model and not about leasing space,” said Gary Richards, Ohio Health director of capital development. This has been part of the initial conversation all along, said YMCA of Central Ohio president John Bickley, adding that all of the YMCA central branches have some sort of hospital relationship. While Ohio Health will pay rent, an amount hasn’t yet been determined, Weber said. “The most important thing is getting the space OK’d,” he said. Ohio Health patients would have access to the entire YMCA on days when they have therapy, Weber said, even if they’re not members
Though a contract hasn’t yet been awarded, the city has selected Mull & Weithman of Columbus and Michael Schuster Associates of Cincinnati as the architect team for the new fire station at the northwest corner of Lexington Boulevard and West Central Avenue. Total construction costs are approximately $1 million. The city will use about $900,000 in fire impact fee funds to pay for construction costs, and the rest will be paid for with fire levy funds, said Delaware community affairs coordinator Lee Yoakum. The design cost is estimated at $160,000. The city will build a new station similar to the Pittsburgh Drive substation. The building will cover from 9,000 to 10,000 square feet. This will be the city’s third fire station. Fire chief John Donahue said a large portion of emergency calls come from the northwest quadrant of the city, where the West Central property is located. Fifty percent of the time, the fire department arrives within six minutes of a call. The new location would increase that percentage to 70 percent. The fire department will be staffed by both new and veteran personnel, Yoakum said. The city will select a contractor later this year, Yoakum said. Construction will start late this year, and the station could open in late 2012. Council also selected Miller Valentine Group as the development team for the former Delaware Hotel site at 351 S. Sandusky St. Miller Valentine Group submitted one of four redevelopment proposals in February for low- and moderate-income senior housing. An evaluation team, including two Delaware City Planning Commission members and one member of the Ohio Wesleyan University community, reviewed the proposals. Miller Valentine proposed an 89-unit complex, costing about $18.5 million over three phases. A four-story building with 14 one-bedroom and 35 two-bedroom units would house 49 units. A threestory building with eight one-bedroom units and 18 two-bedroom units would hold a total of 26 units.
See YMCA, page A2
By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
Delaware Arts Castle dance coordinator Hilary Pyles poses for artists as part of the Arts Castle’s first “Paint Out” on Saturday, June 11. This event invited the public, both professional artists and beginners, to come to the Arts Castle to sketch volunteers from the dance and mediation faculty, who were posing in various parts of the building. The event was in honor of the new Arts Castle exhibit, “At Face Value: Portrait Artists of Central Ohio.”
See CITY SELECTS, page A6
Sunbury council discusses tree replacement By SARAH SOLE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Sunbury Village Council on June 15 discussed whether to continue replacing trees in the public right of way. Village administrator Dave Martin said a Fayburrow Drive resident in Sunbury Estates had asked the city to replace a tree
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in the right of way between the sidewalk and the curb, that had come down following a May 26 storm. While the village will replace the Fayburrow Drive tree, city attorney David Brehm will give council recommendations regarding tree replacement in the right of way to discuss at a future meeting, Martin told ThisWeek.
Martin said that five trees in Sunbury Estates have come down during the past few weeks, all within the right of way. The village plans to replace the trees. While the village is responsible for maintaining the trees in the right of way, a 2008 ordinance prevents new developments from planting trees in the right of way, or tree lawn.
Cheryl is one of many cats up for adoption at the Cat Welfare Association. On Tuesday, June 21, the association will hold its Summer Solstice Adoption Extravaganza, which will feature food and special adoption rates. For information on adopting Cheryl or any of the cats, visit catwelfareohio.com. Watch a video of Cheryl at ThisWeekNews.com.
These guidelines also specify what kind of replacement trees can be planted, Martin told ThisWeek. For example, if a tree lawn is eight to 10 feet wide, a large tree can be planted. In a six-foot wide tree lawn, a medium tree can be planted, and in a four-footSee SUNBURY VILLAGE, page A2
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