Pataskala may land 3 buildings for distribution
If the stars align in terms of a combination of rezoning and abatement approvals, three vast distributionstyle warehouses could be coming to the City of Pataskala.
For at least one of the structures, ground could even be broken this calendar year, according to Pataskala City Administrator Tim Hickin.
“We’re talking about lots of different scenarios out there,” Hickin said in a March 18 phone interview. “What I have really come to realize is that I feel that (development interest) is moving very fast…faster than we’ve ever experienced before.”
One of the three structures being proposed was discussed at two city meetings – one of them the regular Pataskala City Council meeting – on March 15.
TPA Ventures, LLC, is requesting rezoning of three properties located at the northeast corner of Mink Street and Refugee Road from medium-low density residential and general business to planned manufacturing.
TPA is proposing a 1.2 million square foot warehouse/distribution facility “and associated site improvements.”
Pataskala City Council heard a first reading of the rezoning ordinance on March 15. There will be two more readings, then a council vote.
If approved, the new distribution facility would be positioned opposite the site of the recently completed Amazon distribution facility, and the new Ashley Furniture distribution site/ warehouse, whose walls are currently going up on the southeast corner of Mink and Refugee.
It was noted the TPA proposal aligns with the recommendation of the city’s Comprehensive Plan and was recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 3, according to city documents.
At a public hearing held prior to the March 15 Pataskala City Council meeting, Attorney Connie Klema, representing the applicant and property owners, said, “My client has been working with the adjacent property owners, Eileen and Phil Derolf,” on “buffering”.
Klema presented City Planner Scott Fulton with a signed agreement by the Derolfs for a buffering agreement that both parties requested that council incorporate into the larger rezoning agreement.
City Administrator Tim Hickin said TPA will be seeking a tenant for the structure if the rezoning is approved.