New Albany council approves annexation, rezoning and midyear budget changes; moves ahead on school lease and development deals

New Albany’s City Council on July 7 adopted a slate of ordinances and resolutions that will reshape parts of the city’s growth plan and finances.

Council adopted Ordinance O18‑20‑26 to accept the expedited type‑1 annexation of about 9.61 acres from Jersey Township into New Albany after the 60‑day statutory period was met. The public hearing produced no speakers, and the measure passed unanimously, 7–0.

The council also adopted Ordinance O19‑20‑26 to rezone roughly 22.61 acres at the Beach Road/Route 161 interchange to an Infill Planned Unit Development (IPUD) called the Beach Interchange Southeast Expansion. Staff said the New Albany Planning Commission recommended approval 5–0; council members asked staff to complete an updated traffic analysis before later development stages. The rezoning passed 7–0.

On finance, Director Stans presented a midyear appropriation amendment (Ordinance O22‑20‑26) that increases general‑fund appropriations by $6,060,000 over the previous reading, driven mainly by advances and transfers tied to project timing. Council adopted the amendment after a public hearing with no speakers. Finance staff also asked council to declare an emergency and adopt the 2027 tax budget (Ordinance O26‑20‑26) to meet county deadlines; staff estimated the requested inside millage would yield about $848,000 in 2027. Council approved the emergency adoption and related resolution requesting Franklin County allocate the 0.74 inside mills.

Council adopted Resolution R22‑20‑26 approving a community reinvestment agreement with LPC Commercial Investments LLC; developer representatives presented a proposal for a large industrial campus and answered council questions about confidentiality of economic‑development submissions following recent state law changes. Council also approved Resolution R21‑20‑26 to expand the Oak Grove 2 CRA area and set other development district actions for follow up.

In a separate action, council adopted Resolution R25‑20‑26 to authorize a 50‑year lease with the New Albany‑Plain Local School District for redevelopment of the former Discover site. Under the agreement the city will retain park space while the school builds and operates athletic facilities on portions of the site; both parties agreed to a five‑year initial development window with options to request extensions. Council and staff discussed funding, phased timelines, and naming‑rights policies during debate.

Several other technical and administrative items advanced: staff set second readings and public hearings as needed for TIF and property‑transfer ordinances and adopted a lease amendment to expand city office space on Walton Parkway.

What happens next: most adopted ordinances and resolutions will move to implementation steps handled by city staff, the city manager and relevant departments; several items require further administrative actions (traffic analysis, contract execution, and coordination with Franklin and Licking counties).