Chardon creates fund for Square

Some income tax revenues to go toward potential land acquisition

The city of Chardon is setting aside funds for a potential property purchase on the Square.

City Council recently approved legislation to create the Chardon Square Capital Improvement Fund.

The plan involves automatically funneling 2 percent of income tax revenues into the fund, in the event that desirable property becomes available.

“We’d be better prepared to handle it financially,” Finance Director Mate Rogonjic said.

The 2 percent would generate roughly $120,000 to $130,000 annually, he said.

The move is based on the city’s Comprehensive Plan update, completed in January 2019, which identified that the Square “continues to be the determinant development feature, the focus of community activity and identity, and is clearly the city’s single-most significant asset; and a goal of the Comprehensive Plan update is to preserve, reinforce and grow Chardon Square as the city’s real and emotional ‘Center’ … ”

The Comprehensive Plan update concluded that the use of the Square can be increased through development, particularly on the east side, including parking areas and apartments, and noted that consideration should be given to purchasing land with the long-term intent of re-selling it to be aggregated with other parcels to achieve the intended development.

The Ohio Revised Code allows for the establishment of such a fund, but requires a time limit for the funds’ use.

If none of the funds have been spent or encumbered by Feb. 13, 2030, the finance director must transfer all money in the Chardon Square Capital Improvement Fund to the General Fund.

Councilman Jeff Smock expressed support for the measure.

“I’m just happy that we’re moving on this because I think it’s imperative that we put ourselves in a position to have funds available in case the need arises, especially on the east side of the park,” he said.

“I think it would be of great value to the city to purchase property, when it comes available, and to try to put those together to make something that a developer might find to be a usable piece of property,” he added. “And it gives us control of what ultimately gets built, I think.”

In 2016, council adopted a conceptual design for the

Square’s east side, incorporating Chardon Public Library, and Park Elementary School and auditorium as anchors, flanked by mixeduse retail and residential development, with public green spaces, pedestrian access and parking behind the buildings facing the square.

The concept included a 40,000-square-foot library; two, three-story mixed-use buildings at the north and south ends of Park Street — 50 to 60 units each — and potential for a two-level, 446-space parking garage. Restaurants and retail are envisioned on the first floor and homes, such as apartments or condos, on the other floors.

Townhomes would serve as a buffer between the apartment/condo complexes and single-family homes on North and South Hambden streets. In addition, the plan showed the potential for closing Short Court Street and creating a pedestrian mall joining the green space in the park.

There is no set timetable for the vision’s fulfillment.

SUBMITTED Renderings from Chardon Tomorrow show what the city’s Square could look like.