Council approves purchase of land for proposed aquatics center, using TIF funding

Council approves purchase of land for proposed aquatics center, using TIF funding
Times Community Newspapers
By GREG SMART
Editor

Monday, March 14, 2011 - A parks and recreation study conducted by the city of Huber Heights has revealed that the top amenity local citizens want is a pool activity center. That desire became one step closer to reality at the Huber Heights City Council meeting Monday night when Council approved obtaining a 14.292 acre parcel on Brandt Pike immediately north of the YMCA for the purposes of development and a recreation complex.

"Every survey we've done in this city, Kent State, Wright State, the number one issue that rises to the top is that we want a pool-recreation center," Council member Roger Hensley told the Courier.

The cost of the land, not to exceed $650,000, will be covered by TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) revenue that will be generated for the city to pay for all of the public infrastructure.

"The land, the aquatic center and all the components related to the recreation can be paid out of TIF revenue, so none of it is going to cost the taxpayers of Huber Heights anything," Mayor Ron Fisher told the Courier. He also indicated there would be no increase in taxes due to this project.

The Huber Heights YMCA would operate and manage the program for the city and is expected to enter into a letter of agreement with the Transportation Improvement District (TID). Council member Mark Campbell said the Y has the expertise to manage the aquatics center.

Council also authorized an amended ordinance entering a Development Agreement with Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District (TID) and 201 Corridor Management LLC with respect to the recreation center authorizing the appropriation of not to exceed $25,000 to initially fund the feasibility study. The city wants to construct a new recreation center located just north of the existing YMCA facility along State Route 201, which will feature an aquatic center and may include other recreational facilities.

The recreation center will be a public infrastructure improvement that will directly benefit real property in the existing Montgomery County TIF Area and will spur further residential and commercial development in the area. The Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District (TID) wants to work with the city to facilitate the design, construction and financing of the recreation center and related property. The TID will hire architect Bradstetter, Carroll, Inc. to do a feasibility study and engineer plans on this recreation component.

"We have generated enough cash and enough revenue stream to have funds necessary to have the TIF make the payments," Campbell told the Courier.

"This isn't speculating on future development; we're generating enough to be able to do it now,' added Campbell.

"This is the most exciting thing I've ever worked on," said Campbell. "In addition to all of the obvious stuff, It's going to help sell houses in the city."

DEC Investment Group President Bill Jump said that having an amenity like this close to Carriage Trails will be a "fabulous addition not only for the area but for the entire city."

"This facility next to the Y and across the street from Carriage Hill Farm MetroPark will make this area a regional draw." he said.

Jump said that it "can only be done with TIF dollars. The city council gets a lot of credit for thinking ahead here."

Fisher said the goal is to have this aquatic center completed for the summer season of 2012.

Some area aquatic centers are located in Tipp City and Troy. The Huber location is expected to have a pool house.

Campbell said all the capital for this aquatic center would be paid for with TIF monies.

"Now the gate fees only have to cover operation and maintenance," he said. "That is the YMCA model.'

Other future features of the Activity Center could be a tennis center, soccer fields, amphitheater, shelters, playgrounds, a dog park and trails. Jump said Carriage Trails will be connected by trails to the Carriage Hill Farm MetroPark.

Campbell then talked about a conversation with Steve Stanley who represents the Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District. Campbell stated that Montgomery County had identified the area north of I-70 in Huber Heights, on the Brandt Pike Corridor as poised for growth. Campbell said that reasons that Montgomery County believes Huber Heights is poised for growth are the partnerships established, for example with the YMCA and DEC Development Co. and the success that both have experienced. The third reason Campbell cited was the regional draw that the location offers for recreation and business, including retail, commercial, office and signature hotel.

The fourth reason cited was "the existing Montgomery County TIF and the benefits offered so we can begin to create a master plan and more importantly, to begin at once, this recreation component."

Campell said that Stanley talked about how important sales tax dollars are to Montgomery County "and with the growth that's occurred in Greene County, it's time to secure our northern border and begin to compete and bring those tax dollars back home to Montgomery County."

"In addition to bringing back sales tax dollars to Montgomery County, we'll be giving back to the citizens of Huber Heights by offering recreational amenities as surveyed that will improve the quality of life in Huber Heights and will certainly be a growth engine that can provide money to improve and upgrade all of Huber Heights, even south of I-70," said Campbell.

Campbell said that by joining forces with Steve Stanley and the Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District (TID), that the county will participate in some of the heavy lifting. Campbell and Hensley agreed that Huber Heights will be competing with Greene County to bring back retail sales tax dollars to Montgomery County.

"We have actually done our due diligence, this Council has, to put ourselves in a win-win position with the state, county and the city to take advantage of all of these dollars and to turn this around for our city," said Hensley. "It's a good day for Huber Heights."

Campbell said this mixed use development that includes residential, commercial, office and a hotel, would probably be a five year build-out and would be market timed.

"But, while we wait for this economy to come back, we're going to build an anchor to all of this and the anchor is going to be a recreational complex second to none," said Campbell.