LEXINGTON, Ohio — Lexington Village Council approved an ordinance accepting the petition for annexation from Next Generation Films, Inc. during a special meeting Wednesday night.
In April, Next Generation filed a petition with the Richland County commissioners for annexation of 28.4472 acres of land from Washington Township to the Village of Lexington. The commissioners granted and approved the annexation and served the Village of Lexington with the petition for annexation and their resolution granting the annexation.
The territory consists of two parcels of 6.2242 acres and 22.223 acres. There is only one owner of real estate in the territory.
As stated in the ordinance, the annexation will become effective 30 days after passage of the ordinance.
Law Director John Studenmund explained, “Thirty days from the date the ordinance is approved, the rights of the people in the annexed property become effective…so if they want to request a rezone, they have to wait 30 days to file that with the village.”
David Rehfeldt, Next Generation Films CFO, said the company intends to construct a 150,000 square foot building on the annexed land.
“That’s part of next phase of our expansion project,” he said. “We’re going to be putting in three more production lines and a warehouse in the next 18 months, and that should bring about another 80 jobs.”
He noted, “We’re really cramped for warehouse space.”
The annexation will also allow for consolidation, he indicated. “We have warehouse locations across the country we’d be bringing back in to consolidate our operations a little bit better,” he said.
Next Generation Films, located at 230 Industrial Drive, is a manufacturer of plastic film and bags in the flexible packaging industry. It was founded in 1994 by CEO David Frecka.
Next Generation initially began as one plant and has since evolved into a campus with the newest headquarter building featuring a 126-in., 3-layer VAREX blown-film extrusion line from Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp., according to their website.
Rehfeldt said of the construction process, “We’re still in negotiations for the project itself. Obviously our goal is to start construction before the start of winter, but there’s no definite timeframe now.”
“We’re excited about our growth in Lexington,” he added.
“That’s part of next phase of our expansion project,” he said. “We’re going to be putting in three more production lines and a warehouse in the next 18 months, and that should bring about another 80 jobs,” CFO David Rehfeldt.
