Union County agreement paves way for 750 acres to be developed in Jerome Township

A deal signed Wednesday paves the way for about 750 acres to be developed in Jerome Township in Union County.

The Union County Board of Commissioners reached the deal with the Jerome Township Board of Trustees, ending a year-long battle over control and financing of development in the township immediately west of Dublin.

A related deal allows the Columbus development firm Schottenstein Real Estate Group to extend Houchard Road north of Route 161, allowing the development of roughly 750 acres in the Jerome Township Innovation District.

"Houchard Road is extremely critical to the Innovation District," said Jerome Township Administrator Brandon Standley. "Without that road, it will really stifle growth. Once that road will be built, it will really open opportunities for growth to come in."

More: First Del Webb retirement community in Greater Columbus to be built in Union County

Under the first agreement, a four-member board consisting of two township representatives and two county representatives will oversee how tax-increment financing (TIF) revenue will be spent on infrastructure in the township such as roads, sewer and water lines.

The management of TIF revenue was at the heart of the dispute between the township and the county. The county argued that the township's TIF spending plan benefitted developers more than the public while the township argued that it wanted more autonomy over the way the money was spent.

The dispute led the township to ask township voters in November to create a limited home-rule government, which would have given the township more authority. Township voters rejected the measure .

"We hope this opens up communication again between the county and township, and we can start to see projects that benefit the entire region and not just a developer," said Union County Administrator Bill Narducci.

The agreement allows Schottenstein Real Estate Group to proceed with its plans for the 200-acre Jerome Summit development north of Dublin Plain City Road (161) and west of Weldon Road in the Innovation District.

More: Shopping center on U.S. 42 to include Kroger, restaurants and shops

Jerome Summit is expected to include apartments, retail, industrial and technology uses, said company president Brian Schottenstein.

"We'll have a high-end multifamily development, and an industrial user who goes in as well — a manufacturing business or high-tech," he said. "Eventually you'll see a lot of retail coming out here too because everything's moving this way."

Schottenstein Real Estate Group plans to start the development in the spring by extending Houchard Road north of 161 into the site. Plans call for eventually extending Houchard to Warner Road.

The extension will include a roundabout at the intersection of Houchard and 161, Narducci said.

Development has expanded considerably in recent years in the township, especially along Industrial Parkway to the east and north of the Innovation District.

jweiker@dispatch.com

@JimWeiker

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Union County agreement paves way for 750 acres to be developed in Jerome Township