MANSFIELD — Business is literally picking up along Possum Run Road on the south side of Mansfield.
With that development in mind, Mansfield City Council on Tuesday is expected to vote on a tax agreement that would help pay to improve the road near the intersection of I-71 and Ohio 13.
The 10-year agreement with Cocca Development Ltd. from Youngstown is for the new Tractor Supply Company and Five Below stores being finished at the 3.5-acre site, a development that encompasses about 30,000-square feet.
It’s the first time the City of Mansfield has used a tax-increment financing deal, which will send 75 percent of the property tax of the improved area during the period into a fund to be used only to improve infrastructure in that area.
Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry said it will result in about $500,000 for improvements to Possum Run Road, including widening and creating a turn lane.
Cocca Development purchased the land in June for $1.2 million, according to the Richland County Auditor’s Office website.
(Below is a PDF with the tax increment finance deal Mansfield City Council is expected to vote on Tuesday evening.)
“They’re going pay their taxes in full. But that amount that is being carved out is going to go into a special fund. It’s a TIF fund that will be set up at the city to be used for public infrastructure upgrades,” she said.
“(Possum Run Road) is so narrow there and there is potential other development looking in that area. So we just want make sure that from the public standpoint, we would be able to put the road in such a state that it stay easily traversable for residents, as well as customers of all the businesses there,” the mayor said.
“(Future development) is not happening tomorrow by any means, but we think that, with both with this development and potential future development, there is a need,” Perry said.
Local governments around the state have used TIF agreements for similar ventures, including Ontario. TIFs may be created by a township, municipality or county governments.
“It works well on projects where there is significant public infrastructure,” Perry said.
After the 10-year period, the bulk of the property taxes would go to the Lexington Local School District, as usual.
A TIF was discussed in April during a city Planning Commission meeting when developers gained commission approval for the landscaping plan. The approval allowed the company to extend the front parking lot to the setback frontage line on the property, southwest of Walmart.
At that meeting, city engineer Bob Bianchi said, “This is just a recommendation, but perhaps the developer could pursue a TIF in the event we could widen the road to add a turn lane if the Five Below were to become a Starbucks or something that brings in more traffic volume,” Bianchi said.
Perry said at the April meeting the TIF could be helpful if Possum Run Road would need to be widened in the future.
“I know there’s other development potentially that could come in that area, and when public right-of-ways are involved, that would help the city support the development with utilities or road widening — which Possum Run Road will probably need down the line,” she said.
A TSC spokesperson has said the new store will provide about 15 new jobs to the area, with at least half of those being full-time positions.
City Council on Tuesday is also expected to:
— vote on the city’s 2026 temporary budget proposed by Perry and Finance Director Kelly Converse.
— vote on resolutions honoring outgoing council members Laura Burns (1st Ward) and Rev. El Akuchie (3rd Ward) at their final meetings.
— vote on an ordinance raising the salaries for council members representing the 1st Ward, 3rd Ward, 5th Ward and At-large council seats that begin Jan. 1, 2026. Those elected officials will earn annual salaries of $9,263 in 2026, $9,541 in 2027, $9,899 in 2028 and $10,270 in 2029. Under Ohio law, such salaries must be set after an election and before the term begins.
— vote to authorize payment on five damage claims against the city. These were recommended for approval by council’s claims committee on Dec. 2.
— vote on ordinances establishing council’s 12 standing committees, president pro tempore, city council clerk and assistant clerk. Council members made the selections on Dec. 11 during a joint Republican-Democratic caucus at the Ohio State Reformatory.
— vote to appropriate $50,000 from the unappropriated Safety Services PRIDE Services fun based on actual and anticipated revenue through Dec. 31.
— vote to accept the donation of a police K9 vest for K9 Maxx in the Mansfield Police Department, valued at $1,800.
— vote to enter into a software maintenance agreement for $92,249.23 with Superion-Central Square to continue ongoing services related with the city’s safety forces.
(Below is a PDF with legislation planned for consideration Tuesday evening by Mansfield City Council.)
An economic development committee meeting is scheduled Tuesday at 6:40 p.m., followed by a finance committee session at 6:50. Council caucus is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. with the legislative session immediately thereafter.
