Open Source: Is Lexington trying to annex land?

LEXINGTON — The drive from Bellville to Ontario may be getting shorter … in 2035.

Nearly 60 residents from the Village of Lexington and Troy Township attended a stakeholders’ meeting Tuesday night to discuss the possibility of building a new road.

That road, as currently proposed, would connect the intersection of Hanley and Lexington-Springmill roads with the intersection of State Route 97 and U.S. 42.

Some residents voiced concern or outright disapproval of the proposed project, including people wondering if the village of Lexington would be annexing land to do so.

Lexington Mayor Bob Jarvis said the proposed new road could provide opportunities for the village to expand. But land owners would have to agree to the annexation, and any changes to village limits wouldn’t occur for years to come.

Jarvis said even if Lexington manages to secure funds for the connector road, construction wouldn’t begin until at least 2035.

“This is a very long-term project,” Jarvis said. “This is the first step.”

Lexington mayor says project is far from finalized: ‘This is just the first step’

Jarvis said village officials have been talking about a potential connector road in the area for close to 50 years.

“I talked with (former Lexington) Mayor Parkison about it even today,” Jarvis said.

Jarvis said smart growth could allow Lexington to increase its residential, commercial and light-industrial districts, as well as its tax base.

“Right now, the village of Lexington is landlocked,” Jarvis added. “We’re just looking at if this makes sense; that’s what the feasibility study is for.”

In August, the village of Lexington received a $250,000 grant funded through the Richland County Regional Planning Commission for a feasibility study on the potential new road.

The village hired Davey Resource Group, a nationwide consulting firm with offices in Medina County, to conduct the study.

Davey Resource Group came up with six potential routes, but ultimately recommended an approximately one-mile road with a roundabout connecting to Hanley and Lexington-Springmill at its north end.

That road would begin as a continuation of Miller Express Lane, which currently extends north from the intersection of U.S. 42/East Main Street and State Route 97.

It would continue northwest through mostly undeveloped land, ending at a roundabout that would connect it to Hanley and Lexington-Springmill roads.

Lexington would be responsible for however much of the road is within its village limits, according to county engineer Adam Gove. Maintenance for the rest of the road would likely fall to the county.

Eric Smith, director of transportation engineering for Davey Resource Group, confirmed that even if the project gets approved and funded, Lexington cannot forcibly annex property into the village. 

Under Ohio law, a majority of property owners must approve before property can be annexed into a village or city, according to the Ohio Bar Association. 

“The village is not going to be coming out and taking anybody’s property. It can’t happen like that. You have to willingly annex in,” Smith told residents.

“The only thing the village/ODOT could do would be to take right-of-way for the road.”

Smith added that the village and the Ohio Department of Transportation could take a corridor of about 80 to 100 feet for a road’s right of way via eminent domain — but that wouldn’t happen unless the project is finalized. 

Before that happens, the village will have to get approval from ODOT, conduct required environmental studies and develop engineering plans and secure funding.

“We’re in a feasibility study stage. This has taken us about a year,” Smith said.

“The next preliminary engineering environmental stage could take two years. Then you’ve got the design stage — that could take three years. It takes a long time to line up federal funds for projects like this. It takes a lot of time to get the environmental clearances and design done.”

Even after all that planning, it’s possible funding won’t come through.

“We need $18 to $20 million from the Federal Highway Administration to build this road,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of needs in Ohio. I don’t know that this will rise to the top of the list, but we’re going to do our best.”

Lexington village council members would also have to approve the project. Jarvis said it will likely be several years before council would even vote on the project. 

Traffic study indicates new road could cut traffic on Hanley by 50 percent

Smith said estimated cost for the project after taking inflation into account is about $18.5 million.

According to Jarvis, the Richland County Regional Planning Commission could help the village seek federal grants to cover about 80 percent of the project, but Lexington would also need to secure around $3.5 million at the local level.

“I have no idea where the village would get that,” Jarvis said. “This is just the first step. If the feasibility study says it makes sense for us to pursue this, then the next thing the village will do is we’re going to try and get another grant to be able to pay for the design (work).”

Ben Morgan, Davey’s lead transportation engineer, said the village will need to establish a purpose and need for the road in order to secure federal or state funds.

Morgan told residents he believes the village can make its case based on projections that the new road would reduce traffic on Hanley Road and in downtown Lexington. It would do so by creating a more direct route between the State Route 97/Interstate 71 interchange and the city of Ontario, potentially reducing traffic on Hanley Road by up to 50 percent.

Using rules and procedures from the Federal Highway Administration, Morgan said the time and operational savings for area drivers could be worth between $3 and $4 million if the road is put in. 

But not all residents are on board.

During a question-and-answer period, some expressed concern about whether an expanded industry district would cause bothersome noise near neighborhoods.

Others questioned whether the new road would actually reduce traffic in downtown Lexington, saying they believe semi truck drivers will continue to use their customary routes.

One woman said she’s skeptical about the impact the project could have on local floodplains.

“There’s rules and regulations that the county puts forth on how to handle rain water, storm water, how to collect it, how to detain it, how to retain it and how to dispose of it properly in the creek, etc.,” Smith said.

“I can assure you that the engineers that do those site plans, for the county and for the village, will abide by all the rules and regulations that are required.”

Smith also said there will be additional opportunities for public comment at each phase of the project.

But before any of that happens, Davey Resource Group will take the feedback it received Tuesday night and incorporate it into a final feasibility study for the village.

“If the feasibility study says it makes sense to pursue this, then the village will pursue more grants for design money for the project,” Jarvis said.