Community Reinvestment Area (CRA)

Overview

The Board of Commissioners of Licking County, Ohio (the “Board”) hereby provides notice of the adoption of the following Resolution 119-304B, adopted by a majority of the Board at its June 29, 2023 meeting:

A RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTING SECTIONS 3735.65 THROUGH 3735.70 OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE, ESTABLISHING AND DESCRIBING THE BOUNDARIES OF COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREA IN JERSEY TOWNSHIP, AND DESIGNATING A HOUSING OFFICER TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM AND DESIGNATING A COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREA HOUSING COUNCIL AND TAX INCENTIVE REVIEW COUNCIL.

The Board desires to pursue all reasonable and legitimate incentive measures to assist and encourage development in specific areas of Jersey Township that have not enjoyed reinvestment from remodeling or new construction. The area designated as the Jersey Township Community Reinvestment Area constitutes an area in which housing facilities or structures of historical significance are located, and in which new construction or repair of existing facilities has been discouraged.

A Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) will be available to provide property owners with tax incentives for investing in real property improvements only. The exemption percentage and term will be negotiated between the property owner and the local legislative authority on a case-by-case basis and must be approved with formal legislation prior to construction start.

Resolution 119-304B

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Licking County (hereinafter the “Commissioners”) desires to pursue all reasonable and legitimate incentive measures to assist and encourage development in specific areas of Jersey Township that have not enjoyed reinvestment from remodeling or new construction; and

WHEREAS, a survey of housing, a copy of which is on file in the office of the County as required by Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 3735.66 has been prepared for the area to be included in the proposed Community Reinvestment Area; and

WHEREAS, the maintenance of existing and construction of new structures in such area would serve to encourage economic stability, maintain real property values, and generate new employment opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the Commissioners desire to pursue all reasonable and legitimate incentive measures to assist and encourage development; and

WHEREAS, the remodeling of existing structures or the construction of new structures in this Community Reinvestment Area constitutes a public purpose for which real property exemptions may be granted.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR LICKING COUNTY, OHIO, THAT:

Section 1.

The area designated as the Jersey Township Community Reinvestment Area constitutes an area in which housing facilities or structures of historical significance are located, and in which new construction or repair of existing facilities has been discouraged.

Section 2.

Pursuant to ORC Section 3735.66, the Jersey Township Community Reinvestment Area is hereby established and shall consist of all parcels of land located within the unincorporated portions of Jersey Township as may be limited herein by reference. Wherein only commercial and/or industrial properties consistent with applicable zoning regulations within the Jersey Township Community Reinvestment Area will be eligible for exemptions hereunder.

Section 3.

All properties identified in “Exhibit A” as being within the designated Community Reinvestment Area are eligible for this incentive, so long as such properties are classified as to use as commercial, industrial, or some combination thereof, and otherwise satisfying the requirements of ORC Section 3735.67. The classification of the structures or remodeling eligible for exemption in the area shall at all times be consistent with zoning restrictions applicable to the area. This proposal is a public/private partnership intended to promote and expand conforming uses in the designated area. As part of the project, Jersey Township intends to undertake supporting public improvements in the designated area.

Section 4.

Within the Jersey Township Community Reinvestment Area, the percentage of the tax exemption on the increase in the assessed valuation resulting from improvements to commercial and industrial real property and the term of those exemptions shall be negotiated on a case-by-case basis in advance of construction or remodeling occurring according to the rules outlined in the ORC Section 3765.67. The Commissioners generally will expect that these negotiations be directed and approved by the Jersey Township Trustees (hereinafter the “Trustees”) by Resolution, before being approved by the Commissioners by Resolution, after which the results of the negotiations will be set out in writing in a Community Reinvestment Area Agreement as outlined in ORC Section 3735.671.

For the remodeling of existing commercial and industrial facilities and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least $5,000, as described in ORC Section 3735.67, the term and percentage of the tax exemption shall be negotiated on a case-by-case basis in advance of the commencement of the remodeling, with the maximum term of such exemption being a period of fifteen (15) years and the maximum exemption being equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the increase in the assessed valuation resulting from such improvements.

For the construction of new commercial or industrial facilities, the term and percentage of the tax exemption shall be negotiated on a case-by-case basis in advance of the commencement of the construction, with the maximum term of such exemption being a period of fifteen (15) years and the maximum exemption being equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the increase in the assessed valuation resulting from such new construction.

Only commercial and/or industrial properties consistent with the applicable zoning regulations within the designated Community Reinvestment Area will be eligible for exemptions under this Program.

If remodeling qualifies for an exemption, during the period of the exemption, the exempted percentage of the dollar amount of the increase in market value of the structure shall be exempt from real property taxation. If new construction qualifies for an exemption, during the period of the exemption the exempted percentage of the structure shall not be considered to be an improvement on the land on which it is located for the purpose of real property taxation.

Section 5.

All commercial and industrial projects are required to comply with an initial application fee of $2,500 to GROW Licking County or the then-current economic development entity of the County, the local annual monitoring fee of $500 annually to GROW Licking County or the then-current economic development entity of the County, and the local annual administrative fee of $2,000 to Jersey Township.

CRA fees (commercial and industrial projects)

Fee	Paid to	Amount
Initial application fee	GROW Licking County	$2,500
Annual monitoring fee	GROW Licking County	$500 annually
Annual administrative fee	Jersey Township	$2,000

Section 6.

To administer and implement the provisions of this Resolution, the Executive Director of GROW Licking County or the then-current economic development entity of the County, is designated as the Housing Officer as described in Sections 3735.65 through 3735.70.

Section 7.

That the Licking County Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council (hereinafter the “CRA Housing Council”) shall be used for the Jersey Township CRA. The CRA Council shall make an annual inspection of the properties within the district for which an exemption has been granted under Section 3735.67 of the ORC. The Council shall also hear appeals under Section 3735.70 of the ORC. The Trustees shall appoint a member to the Council.

That the Licking County Tax Incentive Review Council (hereinafter the “TIRC”) shall review annually the compliance of all agreements involving the granting of exemptions for commercial or industrial real property improvements under Section 3735.671, of the ORC and make written recommendations to the Commissioners as to continuing, modifying or terminating said agreement based upon the performance of the agreement.

Section 8.

The Commissioners reserve the right to re-evaluate the designation of the Jersey Township Community Reinvestment Area after December 31, 2034, at which time the Commissioners may direct the Housing Officer not to accept any new applications for exemptions as described in Section 3735.67 of the ORC.

Section 9.

The CRA Housing Council shall make an annual inspection of the properties within the district for which an exemption has been granted under Section 3735.67 of the ORC. The CRA Housing Council shall also hear appeals under 3735.70 of the ORC.

Section 10.

The Commissioners hereby find and determine that all formal actions relative to the passage of this Resolution were taken in an open meeting of the Commissioners, that all deliberations of the Commissioners and of its committees, if any, which resulted in formal action were taken in meetings open to the public, in full compliance with the applicable legal requirements, including Section 121.22 of the ORC.

Section 11.

That this Resolution shall take effect and be enforce from and after the earliest period allowed by law.

Section 12.

The County Commissioners hereby direct and authorize the Executive Director of GROW Licking County to forward a copy of this Resolution, along with the supporting documents, to the Director of the Ohio Department of Development.

Section 13.

That this Resolution will promote rehabilitation of existing properties and will encourage new development within the Community Reinvestment Area, it shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage and approval by the Commissioners, and upon confirmation by the Director of the Ohio Department of Development (if required); otherwise it shall take effect and be in force at the earliest time allowed by law.

Motion by Flowers, seconded by Black. Timothy E. Bubb, Duane H. Flowers, Rick Black. Beverly Adzic, Clerk/Administrator.

Exhibit A, the map of the Jersey Township Community Reinvestment Area (depicted in red outline), is included in the original PDF.

School Districts in Jersey Township CRA

• Johnstown-Monroe School District, 441 South Main, Johnstown, OH 43031
• Licking Heights School District, 6539 Summit Road, Pataskala, OH 43062
• Northridge Local School District, 6097 Johnstown Utica Road, Johnstown, OH 43031
• C-TEC Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County, 150 Price Rd, Newark, OH 43055

Original PDF: Resolution 119-304B, notices and Exhibit A map