Officials on Tuesday night approved the annexation of a single 17,000 square-foot parcel in Columbus Township into the City of Columbus.
Columbus City Council members unanimously approved a request by Mickel Properties LLC for the property located at 5075 Carr Hill Road, just south of the Oak Ridge subdivision.
Ed Mickel, of Mickel Properties, indicated to planning department officials that the home is under renovation and the purpose of the annexation is to connect to the city sewer service.
The Columbus Plan Commission forwarded a favorable recommendation on the matter by an 8-0 vote during their meeting on Nov. 13.
City/county planning director Jeff Bergman noted the property is entirely surrounded by the city limits and therefore easily meets the state requirement of 12.5% contiguity for annexation.
“Really what we have is a lot that over time has been excluded from the city limits for one reason or another, probably related to the preferences of that property owner,” Bergman said.
The property is zoned Agriculture: Preferred (AP), although the current use is residential. Bergman said that there is not a companion request to rezone the property.
In addition, the comprehensive plan future land use map identified the area as intended for future residential use, according to Bergman.
Columbus City Utilities (CCU) officials said an approximately 250-foot sewer main extension would be required for sewer services. That would be at an estimated cost of $60,000 to $70,000 that the homeowner would incur, according to planning.
As is the case with all annexation request, planning officials double-checked to ensure that city services could be provided to the property in the same manner they’re provided to other similar properties at no capital cost to the city.
The council considers 10 policies the city has adopted in making a determinination on an annexation request. Planning department officials referenced the following two that were particularly material to the discussion:
- Neighborhoods which are socially, culturally, and economically tied to the City should be a part of the City.
- The pattern of city boundaries should promote efficient provision of services by the city, the county and other agencies.
The County GIS system indicated the 0.39 acre property was purchased by Mickel for $98,000 in September 2019.
