Current Conditions

Section 3 Current Conditions

Background 31

Natural Resources 33

Community Facilities 37

Public Services 41

Community Character 43

Transportation 45

Surrounding Jurisdictions 46

Big Darby Accord 48

Current Land Use 51 30 31

Background

History Flood of 1913 Pleasant Township was organized in 1807. In late March 1913, it rained steadily for five Originally, the township was approximately days and the streams all over Ohio rose rap- four to five times larger than its present area. idly. By the third day, levees were breeched The formation of Jackson Township in 1815 and many towns were flooded. Unchecked and Prairie Township in 1819 greatly reduced fires added to the destruction and the loss of the size of the township. The first settlement in life. When the waters receded, mud and debris Pleasant Township was on the Big Darby Creek, covered streets, homes and businesses. The final near Georgesville. Among the first settlers were death toll was 361. Property damages were well Thomas Roberts, John Bigger, James Gardiner, over $100 million and 65,000 residents were Samuel Dyer, Samuel Kerr and John Turner. forced to temporarily leave their homes. The pioneers of the 1800s found the Darby plains very challenging for agriculture. It was only after the land was drained and tilled that The flood of 1913 caused life and property losses the wet prairie was converted into productive throughout Ohio farmland, still a primary land use in Pleasant Township today. Commerce and community services were established in the early 1800s. Samuel Dyer erected a grist mill in 1805, which is now part of the Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park system and known as Dyer’s mill. It was the only flouring mill in the township. In 1815, the Pleasant Post Office was established. Thomas Roberts laid out the town of Georgesville in 1816 and the name of the post office was changed to Georgesville Post Office in 1818. In June, 1836, the town of Harrisburg was laid Ohio Historical Society out by Joseph Chenowith and Frederick Cole. The village contained about 30 families. 32 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan

Highway-oriented development on Harrisburg Pike near I-71 Franklin County

Interstate Development Department of Transportation, then called the Ohio Department of Highways, began con- Pleasant Township had a modest growth rate structing the interstate system. The completion during the first half of the 20th century. The of Interstate 71 in the early 1970s resulted in population of Pleasant Township increased increased residential development in the town- Figure 3 dramatically with suburbanization and the Historic sites located ship. Although residential development has now throughout Pleasant development of Interstate 71. In 1957 the Ohio Township slowed, there is still growth pressure from the northeast and along Interstate 71.

Historic and Cultural Features JOHN GALBREATH MOUND

g g

D The Big Darby watershed makes up a signifi- a rb y C r e e cant portion of Pleasant Township and has many k

Li historic and cultural resources. Artifacts dis- t t le Darby C r

e TOM CANNON

e e k k MOUND covered in the Big Darby watershed show that sophisticated ancient cultures once lived along

GEORGESVILLE the creeks. There are a number of Adena Indian SITES LAWRENCE BEAVER’S mounds along the creek banks and uplands FARM WITTMAN throughout the watershed. The Big Darby Plains

B WALTER HOUSE ig

Darb y

C were also reported to have been the hunting

r r

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WALTER grounds for both the Wyandot and Shawnee WILLING PROPERTY Indians. Pleasant Township is home to two sites on

665 the National Register of Historic Places, Tom Cannon Mound and John Galbreath Mound. The

l l

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b Tom Cannon Mound begins on the southern tip r

r 3 a a

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R 62 of a bluff where the Little Darby and Big Darby

u u n creeks meet. The mound is currently 3.4 feet

71 high and 45 feet in diameter. Originally, the

MILLER FARM mound was likely to have been 6 to 7 feet tall and 40 feet in diameter. The pre-historic Adena Indian group erected the mound as a mortuary monument between 500 b.c. to a.d. 400. Current Conditions 33

Big Darby watershed

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Figure 4 The majority of Pleasant Township is located within the Big Darby watershed

The Ohio Historic Register recognizes sev- Place.” The Big and Little Darby creeks were eral historic homes and farmsteads in Pleasant designated National Scenic Rivers in 1984. Township. Examples of Victorian Italianate The Big Darby watershed is 580 square miles architecture include the Walter Willing House and covers portions of six counties in central and the Miller Farm. Georgesville has a number Ohio. Approximately 86.3 percent of Pleasant of historic buildings, including the Georgesville Township is within the Big Darby watershed. Weigh Station, built in 1870. The structure still The Big Darby Creek runs through Pleasant stands, now serving as a residence. Township for approximately 14 miles. The Little Darby Creek runs through the northwest Environmental Natural Resources portion of the township for about 3.5 miles, from the Madison County line to where the Little Darby Creek enters Big Darby Creek at Big Darby Watershed Georgesville. In 1991 the Nature Conservancy designated The Big Darby watershed is the healthiest and the Big Darby watershed as a “Last Great most diverse aquatic system of its size in the 34 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan

Midwest. It is one of the top five warm freshwa- In addition to its aquatic diversity, the Big ter habitats in the nation and has 108 species of Darby watershed has a diverse landscape of fish and 38 species of mollusks. The ecosystem terrestrial flora and fauna. The watershed includes three federally-listed endangered spe- landscape includes remnant prairies and savan- cies, four state-listed endangered fish and five nas, once part of a Tallgrass Prairie ecosystem. state-listed endangered mollusk species. The Unfortunately, the clearing of mature forests federally-listed species are the Scioto Madtom, and installation of artificial drainage helped to Northern Riffle Shell and the Northern Club eliminate many of these terrestrial plant and Shell. The state-listed fish species include the animal species. Prairie ecosystem plant species, Lake Chubsucker, Northern Brook Lamprey, such as Burr Oaks and Post Oaks, are becom- Spotted Darter and Northern Madtom. The ing scarce and fragmented in the Big Darby state-listed mollusk species are the Elephant watershed. Although a few stands survive from Ear, Ridged Pocketbook, Washboard, Cob Shell pre-settlement times, their numbers are decreas- and the Bean Shell. ing and regeneration is minimal.

Age Distribution in Pleasant Township Unemployment Rate 2000 Population 16 Years or Older, 2000

4.0

Total Population: 7,030 people 3.5 Median Age: 39.4 years

3.0

65+ 2.5

15 or younger Percentage of Population 2.0

1.5 45-64 16-24 1.0

0.5 25-44

0.0 Pleasant Franklin Ohio United States Township County U.S. Census Bureau Fig. 5 U.S. Census Bureau Fig. 6

Median Household Income Walk to Work 1999 2000

800

700 3.0

600 2.5

Number of People 500 2.0 400

1.5 300 Percentage of People

200 1.0

100 0.5

0 0.0

Pleasant Franklin Ohio United Township County States

Less than 10,00010,000 to 14,99915,000 to 24,99925,000 to 34,99935,000 to 49,99950,000 to 74,99975,000 to 99,999 200,000 or more $100,000 to 149,999150,000 to 199,999Income ($)

U.S. Census Bureau Fig. 7 U.S. Census Bureau Fig. 8 Current Conditions 35 Franklin County

The Big Darby Creek is widely recognized for its natural beauty

The exceptional water quality of the Big Darby Franklin County Population Forecast Creek is threatened by changes in the landscape. 1990-2030 Historically, agriculture was the primary land use in the drainage basin, with approximately 80 1,500,000 percent of the land area in fields of row-crops.

People As central Ohio became one of the fastest-

1,350,000 growing regions in America, conversion of the 2030 watershed from agricultural to urban land uses threatened the health of this aquatic system. 1,200,000 Sediment, fertilizer and chemical pollution 2005 from agricultural fields, and stormwater runoff 1,050,000 2000 from urbanizing areas are the primary threats

1990 to water quality. Urban stormwater runoff and 900,000 underground drainage systems generate intense 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Year surges of water that enter both the tributaries Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Fig. 9 and main stems of the Big and Little Darby Creeks. These surges of water result in flooding,

Pleasant Township Population Forecast Housing Occupancy 1990-2030 2000

12,000 Owner-Occupied Renter-Occupied Vacant People

2030

10,000 Franklin County

8,000 Pleasant Township

2005 2000 0 20 40 60 80 100 1990 6,000 Percentage 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Year

Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Fig. 10 U.S. Census Bureau Fig. 11 36 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan

destabilization of the stream banks, and the dis- areas for open space, parks and preservation ruption of streambed and riparian habitats. areas. The analysis evaluated hydrogeologic, hydrologic and ecologic resources to identify With increasing development pressure in environmentally sensitive lands. The sensitivity Pleasant Township, preserving the rare, natural analysis was then used to develop the tiers used resources of the Big Darby watershed is particu- in the conservation strategy. Figure 12 below larly important. shows the factors that were considered in the environmental sensitivity analysis. Demographic Trends Pleasant Township may experience rapid growth Figure 12 Environmental Sensitivity Factors according to MORPC population forecasts. Currently, Pleasant Township enjoys many posi- Sensitive Features Sensitivity tive demographic trends. The age distribution Groundwater-related in Pleasant Township is balanced, with a median High degree of flow exchange HIGH age of 38.4 years. There is a low unemploy- Moderate degree of flow exchange MED ment rate when compared with Franklin County, High groundwater pollution potential HIGH Ohio and the United States. The median Highly erodible soils HIGH household income range is $50,000 to $74,999. Areas with hydric soils LOW The majority of Pleasant Township residences Surface water-related are owner-occupied, with low vacancy rates. Wetlands HIGH Pleasant Township is primarily a commuter FEMA 100 year floodplain boundary HIGH township. Less than one percent of residents Beltwidth calculated buffer zone HIGH walk to work. FEMA 500 year floodplain boundary LOW Ecologic Federal, State Endangered Species HIGH Hellbranch Watershed State threatened HIGH Hellbranch Run is a major tributary of the Big Species of special concern HIGH Darby Creek. It flows through the eastern por- Wooded areas of 3 acres or greater MED tion of Pleasant Township for approximately Wooded areas of 0.5 to 2.99 acres LOW Source: Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan 6.5 miles until it enters into the Big Darby Creek just north of Interstate 71. Portions of the Hellbranch Run include warm water and excep- Conservation Strategy tional warm water Habitat. The Hellbranch The Big Darby Accord created a conserva- Watershed is negatively impacted by the same tion strategy that prioritizes protection areas development trends that affect the Big Darby throughout the Big Darby watershed. The tiers Watershed. Protecting the environmental quality are based on multiple factors, including factors of the Hellbranch watershed is integral to pro- from the sensitivity analysis. tecting the health of the Big Darby Watershed. -- Tier 1: Land within Tier 1 is considered the primary priority for protection through Environmentally Sensitive Areas land acquisition and other programs. Tier 1 The Big Darby watershed has been the focus resources include: the 100 year floodplain, of recent efforts to preserve and protect the riparian corridors, wetlands, and critical watershed’s delicate ecological balance. The groundwater recharge and pollution Big Darby Accord is an historic multi-jurisdic- potential zones. The protection of these tional partnership in which four municipalities, elements provides a buffer for sensitive five townships and Franklin County agreed to aquatic habitats and is critical to the health work collaboratively to outline land use and of the watershed. environmental policies that preserve and protect -- Tier 2: Land within Tier 2 is considered a the watershed. The Big Darby Accord created secondary priority for protection through a sensitivity analysis that identified priority land acquisition and other programs. Current Conditions 37

Conservation Strategy Tiers

Protected (existing)

Parks (existing)

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DENTON RD G

Y Figure 13 Environmental conservation priorities, as found in the Big Darby Accord Resources within Tier 2 include highly Community Facilities and Services erodible soils and contiguous wooded areas that are greater than three acres in size. -- Tier 3: Land within Tier 3 is considered South-Western City School District a tertiary priority for protection through Prior to 1954, there were six boards of educa- land acquisition. These areas should be tion and one high school in the area now known conserved through permanent conservation as the South-Western City School District. The easements, within conservation district maintained a fairly stable rural popula- development subdivisions and other tion. As the population grew in the southwestern suitable mechanisms. Tier 3 is envisioned portion of Franklin County in the mid-1950s, as providing an integral piece of the open schools were pressed to meet the needs of the space network. The areas can provide growing number of students. habitat connectivity and buffer areas, while providing passive recreation and A committee of citizens representing the six certain types of sensitively designed active districts was formed and meetings were held recreation is considered suitable for Tier 3 with members of the various boards of educa- areas. tion, and with county and state officials. On 38 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan

January 1, 1956, the South-Western Local the South-Western School District every year. School District was formed by consolidating During this time, Grove City changed from a five local and one village school system. These village to become a chartered city in 1958. On were: the Grove City-Jackson Exempted Village August 19, 1959, South-Western City School District, the Franklin Township Local District, System was established. Two new high school the Prairie Township Local District, the Pleasant buildings, Westland High School and Grove Township Local District, the Urbancrest Village City High School, opened in the 1970–1971 District and the Georgesville Local District. school year. Immediately following the creation of the new The South-Western City School district has a district, an additional tax levy for operation was reputation as one of Ohio’s most outstanding requested and approved by voters. A bond issue school districts. As the population continues to pay for construction of additional school to grow in southwestern Franklin County, the buildings was also approved in 1956. South-Western City School System continues The population continued to grow in the late to grow and provide the necessary facilities to 1950s and over 1,000 new students entered meet the needs of its nearly 21,000 students.

Public facilities

Park

B Fire station

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R D D N a School E rby R C r R e D e k

D A Battelle Darby Creek R B Lit t le Darb Metro Park Y y C C R r e E

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JOHNSON RD

D R E L IL V GROVE CITY RD S T H IG R H WR - A B KROPP RD E R L ig L R I Da I V rb S Pleasant View S y B

U E C Middle School

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O F V T R E IL O L N N Battelle Darby Creek E R Metro Park D Pleasant Township BEATTY RD Fire Station

Darbydale Elementary

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Battelle DENTON RD G Darby Creek N Metro Park U

O Harrisburg Y Figure 14 Elementary Locations of schools, parks and fire station Current Conditions 39

There are three schools within Pleasant The school staff includes five regular classroom Township: Darbydale Elementary, Harrisburg teachers, a Learning Disabilities tutor, and an Elementary and Pleasant View Middle School. enrichment teacher who serves students across There was also once a school in Georgesville. the district. Harrisburg also has eight staff members and one administrator. Darbydale Elementary Pleasant View Middle School Darbydale Elementary was built in 1958. It currently has 235 students in kindergarten through Pleasant View High School was built in 1959, fourth grade. The school has 12 teachers, eight with an addition built in 1962. Westland High staff members and one administrator. School was built in 1970, and Pleasant View High School became Pleasant View Middle School. The school currently houses seventh Harrisburg Elementary and eighth grade, with an approximate enroll- Harrisburg Elementary was built in the late ment of 840 students. The staff at Pleasant View 1930s and a classroom wing was added in 1960.

High-accident roads

Highest accidents

Higher accidents

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R D D Medium accidents N a E rby R C r R e D e k

D A R 40 B Lit t le Darb Y y C 20 Crashes at intersections C R r e E

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DENTON RD G

Y Figure 15 Locations of traffic hazards along Pleasant Township roads 40 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan

Environmentally-sensitive areas

Highest sensitivity

Higher sensitivity

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R D Moderate sensitivity D N a E rby R C r R e D e k

D A R B Lit t le Darb Y y C C R r e E

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D R E L IL V GROVE CITY RD S T H IG R H WR - A B KROPP RD E R L ig L R I Da I V rb S S y B

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Figure 16 Y Environmental sensitivity analysis, as found in the Big Darby Accord Franklin County

Darbydale Elementary School Current Conditions 41

Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV)

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D A R B Lit t le Darb Y y C C R r e E

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Y Figure 17 Parcels with Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV) includes 60 teachers, 20 staff members, two The 2001 Comprehensive Plan suggested a administrators and two guidance counselors. second fire station may be needed if growth continues in order to meet time and distance requirements. There was an expansion in 2007 Public Services that resulted in three apparatus bays and a stor- age area. Fire The Township is served by one fire station, Police located at 5373 Norton Road. The fire depart- At this time, policing of the township is con- ment has 11 full-time, career firefighters. There ducted by the Franklin County Sheriff. The are six volunteer firefighters and 44 part-time, 2001 Comprehensive Plans recognized that career firefighters. The fire station has a mini- there may be a future need for greater police mum manning of four firefighters, in addition to protection as the population increases. any volunteers. 42 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan

Battelle Darby Creek — Trails

Ancient Trail 1.9 miles Dyer Mill / Ski Trail 3.2 miles Terrace Trail 2 miles

Cobshell Trail 0.8 miles Hawthorn Loop Trail 0.8 miles Turkey Foot Trail 0.5 miles

Darby Creek Indian Ridge Trail 0.6 miles Wagtail Trail 1.6 miles Greenway Trail 4 miles

P Main entrance Cedar Ridge Cedar Ridge Lodge Picnic Area Da Overlook rby C P ree k D r Maintenance Ar Streamside Classroom

P Shagbark Area ea G White Oak ard ne Area r R Road Li d ire ttle Darby Creek Alk P Canoe access/ P Sledding hill ad Camp Chase Railro

Little Darby Georgesville P Picnic Area P Indian Ridge P Picnic Area P

rightsville Road

P k e e r C Natural play area Georgesville-W y

i B Fort Ancient Mound

Haenzel Rd Figure 18 Trails located within Battelle-Darby Creek Metropark

Parks and Recreation Centers Districts: Franklin Heights Falcon’s Nest, Grove City Recreation Center and Westland The Battelle Darby Metro Park covers a large Community Center. All of the recreation centers portion of Pleasant Township and is open to the have a gym, walking track, basketball court and public. The majority of trails within the park sauna. exist within Pleasant Township, including Dyer Mill/Ski Trail, Ancient Trail, Cobshell Trail, Indian Ridge Trail, Wagtail Trail, Hawthorn Private Recreational Facilities Loop Trail, Turkey Foot Trail and portions of There are two private recreational facilities the Darby Creek Greenway Trail. The park in Pleasant Township: the Hickory Hills Golf offers many other recreational resources includ- Course and Oakhurst Country Club. ing a canoe access point, ice skating pond, sledding area, play equipment, natural play areas, public hunting areas and picnic shelters. There are also three recreation centers open to members of the South-Western City School Franklin County

315 Current71 Conditions 43

670

70 West PRAIRIE TWP Columbus Jefferson FRANKLIN TWP 70 JEFFERSON TWP 270 104

Madison County London Franklin County Grove City 33 PLEASANT TWP

FAIRFIELD TWP 71

JACKSON TWP

Harrisburg Franklin County Orient Pickaway County

Commercial Point DARBY TWP SCIOTO TWP PLEASANT TWP

71 Figure 19 Mount Ten jurisdictions in Sterling three counties border Pleasant Township

Madison Community Character and attached garages.Five Points Most homes are on large County lots, with large setbacks from the roadway.

Residential The majority of the housing stock in Pleasant Township was built in the late 1960s and 1970s. Pleasant Township has many architec- Pleasant Township experienced a housing tural styles, including Victorian, American boom in 1972 and 1973. Original settlements Foursquare and Ranch Style. Victorian homes include the farm homesteads and older parts of within Pleasant Township were built in the Darbydale, Georgesville and Harrisburg. Newer early 1800s. American Foursquare homes were developments have included planned subdivi- built between the 1890s and 1930s. American sions, manufactured home parks, and conver- Foursquare homes have a Farmhouse style, with sion of single farms into numerous five-plus detached garages, two-story primary structures acre lots. Circleville and large gables. Ranch style homes were built between the 1940s and 1970s. These homes are characterized by one-story primary structures

Pickaway County 44 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan All images: Franklin County

Darbydale sewer plant Conservation Subdivisions estate values. Cash farms and CAUV land uses make up 42.9 percent of Pleasant Township. The Big Darby Accord promotes the use of conservation subdivisions, also called clus- According to the 2001 Agricultural Census, the ter development, to protect the health of the farmland in Pleasant Township represents 11.8 Darby watershed by maximizing open space. percent of the land in farms in Franklin County. By clustering houses on smaller lots, conserva- In addition to active agriculture, there are 3,878 tion development design can protect natural acres of vacant agricultural land, which make up resources on site and preserve rural character. 13.9 percent of Pleasant Township.

Agricultural Infrastructure and Public services The predominance of agricultural uses contrib- utes to the rural character of Pleasant Township. Water There are 11,940 acres of active agriculture in Pleasant Township, including cash farms and Franklin County is in the process of establishing other agricultural uses that qualify for Current a new well field for the Timberlake subdivision. Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) Taxation. Two, 12-inch test wells have already been tested CAUV taxes land at its agricultural value, and preliminary results show adequate flow instead of true market value, which is often to be able to serve the 189 home subdivision. significantly higher. This tax reduction allows When water service is established, it will be the farms to continue operation in face of rising real first county-managed water system since the mid-1990s. The construction project to build the new water processing plant is expected to begin in 2010.

Franklin County Sewer Franklin County has invested consider- able money into sewer facilities for Pleasant Township. The Darbydale package plant cleanup began in 2002 as a response to the issuance of EPA Findings and Orders. The Darbydale waste water treatment facility and collection system, which became fully operation in 2005, is expected to cost Franklin County over $ 7.5 million. The historical corporation lines of Darbydale were set as the sewer boundary; no new development outside of

Big Darby Creek Current Conditions 45

the corporation line may connect to the sewer Harrisburg Pike also passes through the south- infrastructure. east corner of the township for 3.5 miles. London-Groveport Road runs from east to west, The Darbydale plant is designed to handle across the middle of Pleasant Township for 7.5 300,000 gallons of waste per day; with a peak miles. flow of one million gallons per day. In general, households generate 200 gallons of waste per Pleasant Township is also connected with the day and trailers generate 150-175 gallons of regional highway system. Interstate 270 may be waste per day. With the existing connections, accessed via Norton Road. Interstate 70 may be the Darbydale treatment facility handles, on accessed by taking Gardner Road to Plain City- average, approximately 125,000 to 140,000 Georgesville Road, in Madison County. gallons of waste per day. This number includes the Community Gardens mobile home park and Accidents approximately 325 homes and businesses in the Darbydale area. The EPA order mandates that MORPC traffic data from 2003 to 2006 was the two remaining mobile home parks, Oak Hill analyzed to assess traffic accidents. The inter- and Pleasant Acres, be connected into the plant. sections with the highest accident rates are Boyd Work continues to insure compliance with the Road and Opossum Run Road; Lambert Road EPA orders. and London-Groveport Road; Pleasant Corners at Harrisburg Pike; and Alkire Road and Darby The Timberlake subdivision was also ordered Creek Drive. The roads that have the highest into the Darbydale treatment facility by the accident rates are London-Groveport Road in Ohio EPA. The water and sewer systems of this Darbydale, Harrisburg Pike, Norton Road and 189 home subdivision are currently owned by Interstate 71. Cordell Utilities. Franklin County has commit- ted to taking over operation and ownership of the water and sewer systems once new facilities Railroads are built. The current waste water treatment There are two rail lines that cross through facility will be abandoned and the sewage will Pleasant Township. The Camp Chase Industrial be pumped to the Darbydale plant. The sewer Railroad is a small, regional line that serves force main to the Darbydale plant will become factories and grain elevators from the west Side operational in late 2009. of Columbus to London, Ohio. The Camp Chase The Village of Harrisburg, currently under simi- Industrial Railroad line crosses through the lar EPA Findings and Orders, is in the process northern portion of Pleasant Township for 3.6 of designing a sewer collection system and miles, bisecting Georgesville and the Battelle- pumping station that will pump sewage from Darby Creek Metro Park. A CSX Transportation their 164 homes to the Timberlake Subdivision line parallels Harrisburg Pike for 2.8 miles pumping station and then to the Darbydale within Pleasant Township, adjacent to Pleasant plant. Work began in early 2009 on the new Corners and continuing south through Orient in sewer collection system and pumping station. Pickaway County.

Transportation Airports There are two facilities located directly to the Major Thoroughfares north of Pleasant Township in Prairie Township: Bolton Field and Columbus Southwest Airport. Interstate 71 curves through the southeast corner of Pleasant Township for approximately 4.5 Bolton Field, operated by the Columbus miles. Residents often use two interchanges to Regional Airport Authority, serves as a reliever access the township: Exit 97, London-Groveport to Port Columbus International Airport. Road and Exit 94, Harrisburg Pike which is Constructed in October of 1970, Bolton Field located inside of the township boundaries. is one of two general aviation reliever airports 46 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan

recognized in the National Plan of Integrated Grove City Airport Systems in the Columbus area and one Grove City is a growing suburb of Columbus of 12 in Ohio. The Airport Authority encourages that developed as a bedroom community. Its commercial development of portions of Bolton Franklin County projected population in 2030 is 37, 900, with Field’s 1,500-acre site located off Interstate 270, an estimated 15,100 households and 13,200 nine miles southwest of downtown Columbus. jobs. The majority of current land uses in close Columbus Southwest Airport is a private airport proximity to Pleasant Township are residential; located approximately 11 miles southwest however, there is an industrial and commercial of downtown Columbus and just outside of area south of the interchange of Interstate 71 Pleasant Township. The airport has a grass run- and London-Groveport Road. There is also way and accommodates only small planes.315 a large industrial area northeast of Pleasant 71 Township between Big Run South Road and Intersate 270. Surrounding Jurisdictions Franklin County Grove 6City70 is currently in the process of

70 creating a town center master plan, including the redevelopment of 2.5 acres of the “Old Lumberyard” site as a mixed-use commercial, 70 West PRAIRIE TWP Columbus Jefferson FRANKLIN TWP office and residential development. As of this 70 JEFFERSON TWP 270 time, there is not a comprehensive land use plan 104for the entire municipality. 315 71

Madison County London Franklin County Grove City 33 PLEASANT TWP 670 FAIRFIELD TWP 71 70

JACKSON TWP

Harrisburg 70 Franklin County West PRAIRIE TWP Columbus Pickaway County Orient Jefferson FRANKLIN TWP 70 JEFFERSON TWP 270 104 Commercial Point DARBY TWP

Madison County London SCIOTO TWP Franklin County PLEASANT TWPFig. 20 East: Jackson Township and Grove City Grove City 33 71 PLEASANT TWP

Mount FAIRFIELD TWP Sterling Jackson Township 71

Madison The southern portion of JacksonFive Points Township is County JACKSON TWP predominantly agricultural. The other common Harrisburg Franklin County land use is large lot residential, mainly along Orient Pickaway County the Grove City corporation boundary. Jackson Fig. 21 North: Prairie Township and Columbus Township is greatly affected by the continued Commercial Point DARBY TWP growth of Grove City. Prairie Township SCIOTO TWP PLEASANT TWP

The last Comprehensive Plan for Jackson71 PrairieCircleville Township has two distinct development Township was created in 1990. Jackson Mount patterns:Sterling rural and urbanized. Urbanized areas Township began a Comprehensive Planning in the township are characterized by com- process in late 2008 thatMadison is slated for Countycompletion mercial and planned residentialFive Points development in 2010. along West Broad Street and by two suburban style subdivisions, Westpoint and Lake Darby Estates, located along Hubbard Road, north Pickaway County of West Broad Street. The western portions of

Circleville

Pickaway County Franklin County

315 71 Current Conditions 47

670

70 West PRAIRIE TWP Columbus Jefferson FRANKLIN TWP the township south of West Broad Street are 70 JEFFERSON TWP 270 predominantly rural. 104

Madison County Prairie Township is a memberLondon of the Big Franklin County Grove Darby Accord. The 2003 Prairie Township City 33 Comprehensive Plan was updated in 2007 to PLEASANT TWP FAIRFIELD TWP reflect the Big Darby Accord Land Use Plan. 71 The areas bordering Pleasant Township are Protected Open Space and Tier 3 conservation JACKSON TWP Harrisburg Franklin County zones, made up of parks, open space corridors Orient Pickaway County and buffers. There are four major future land use categories in Prairie Township: existing urban- Commercial Point DARBY TWP ized, suburban edge, town center and rural. SCIOTO TWP Infill development is recommended for existing PLEASANT TWP urbanized portions. Suburban edge develop71 - Mount ment, areas zoned for 3-5 units per acre, acts as Sterling an abutting land use to existingMadison subdivisions. Five Points County Fig. 22 South: Darby & Scioto Twps., Harrisburg, Orient The proposed location for the Town Center is between West Broad Street and Interstate 70, in both Prairie and Brown Townships. Columbus Darby Township (Pickaway County) has agreed to supply sewer and water lines into The township is primarily agricultural and is Prairie Township without annexation to develop dominated by large farms. Urban development the town center. Western Prairie Township, is concentrated in the northeastern portion of the Circleville south of U.S. 40, is intended to remain rural or township. During the 1960s and 1970s, por- be developed as a conservation development. tions of Darby Township experienced significant suburban-style subdivisions and mobile home Columbus park developments. A lack of direct interstate access has been a limiting factor in develop- Columbus is the largest city in Ohio. An aggres- ment pressure for the township. Since 2001, sive municipal annexation plan resulted in the Pickaway County Darby Township has experienced significant and geographic expansion of Columbus toward unprecedented growth. Most commercial and Pleasant Township. The area of Columbus that industrial growth is along US Route 62. most impacts Pleasant Township is the Westland Area. In the 1950s, the area was annexed to The goals of the 2001 Darby Township Plan are Columbus and residential development led to a to define and limit future growth areas; control population increase of 29 percent between 1980 growth in areas without sewer; to preserve and 1990. The last plan for the Westland Area farmland; and encourage non-residential devel- was adopted in 1994, when the area experienced opment at locations consistent with the charac- rapid growth and change. ter of the township. Proposed growth areas are located just along and just south of Harrisburg Columbus and Franklin County have recently Pike. partnered to create the Southwest Area Plan. The plan identifies industrial, light industrial and office uses surrounding the interchange of Scioto Township (Pickaway County) Interstate 270 and Harrisburg Pike. The area The current land use in Scioto Township is also has park, semi-rural residential and low and primarily agricultural. There are planned-unit medium-low density residential. residential districts and rural residential land uses along major roadways. Scioto Township was in the process of complet- ing a comprehensive plan in early 2009. 48 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan All images: Franklin County

Agriculture is the Harrisburg the township from Franklin County. Most predominant land use developed land is residential, with small areas in Pleasant Township Harrisburg is an historic village located on the of commercial, public and semi-public devel- southern border of Pleasant Township. The land opment. Portions of the Battelle Darby Creek uses are primarily small-lot residential. Metro Park extend into Fairfield Township, There is not a current comprehensive plan for across the Pleasant Township border. Recent Harrisburg. residential development has occurred along the eastern border with Franklin County. Orient Franklin CountyThe 2005 Comprehensive Plan calls for Fairfield Township to remain predominantly Orient is a small community of about 0.1 square agricultural, with strips of rural suburban miles. The primary land uses is small-lot residential along major roadways. The plan also residential. calls for commercial land use along the Camp There are no current land use plans in place for Chase Industrial Railroad

Orient. 315 Jefferson7 1Township (Madison County) The land in Jefferson Township is predominantly agricultural. 6Over70 half of the developed 70 land in Jefferson Township is residential. Other developed lands are commercial, industrial,

70 West PRAIRIE TWP Columbusand public and semi-public. Developments are Jefferson FRANKLIN TWP concentrated along roadways running70 into the JEFFERSON TWP 270 township from104 Franklin County.

Madison County London Franklin County The 2005 Comprehensive Plan calls for Grove 33 City Jefferson Township to remain predominantly PLEASANT TWP agricultural, with pockets of rural suburban FAIRFIELD TWP 71 residential development, especially concentrated in the southeastern portion. There is also JACKSON TWP a commercial and industrial area north of West Harrisburg Franklin County Orient Pickaway County Broad Street. The plan also identifies preservation areas along the Big Darby and Little Darby Fig. 23 North: Fairfield and Jefferson Townships Commercial PointCreeks. DARBY TWP SCIOTO TWP PLEASANT TWP Fairfield Township (Madison County) 71 Big Darby Accord Mount Agricultural land makesSterling up the majority of the The Big Darby Accord, completed in 2007, was land use in Fairfield Township. Developments Madison County Five Points created collaboratively by Pleasant Township are concentrated along roadways running into and nine other jurisdictions. Pleasant Township

Circleville

Pickaway County Current Conditions 49

Figure 24 General Future Land Big Darby Accord General Land Use Use Map, as found in the Big Darby Accord Residential Urban High Density Residential Urban Medium Density

Residential Suburban High Density

Residential Suburban

Residential Rural

Rural Estate

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D D Agriculture R D N a E rby R C r R e Protected D e k Existing Parks D A R B Tier 1 Lit t le Darb Y y C C R Tier 2 r e E

E e e D

K R k k IRE Tier 3 D LK R A 50% Open Space Rural Density

JOHNSON RD

D R E L IL V GROVE CITY RD S T H IG R H WR - A B KROPP RD E R L ig L R I Da I V rb S S y B

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R e G U - K O e G E E k E N G S O R R D D D G R

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LON D D ON-GRO R VEPO

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I E u B O u R n E G D IK R E P UN S R V G M I R U L ZUBER R SS L U D PO E B O S R I D R R A H 71 H ARR ISBU RG & LO NDO N R D D

DENTON RD G

Y 50 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan

while incorporating other goals expressed by residents. Franklin County Plan Principles The Accord developed a set of nine Plan Principles that will guide the implementation of the Plan. The principles were instrumental in achieving the consensus among the ten jurisdictions and shaped the land use map and planning process. The nine principles provide direction to local officials and to the public. They ensure that actions, both individually and collectively, are achieving the Mission of the Accord. The nine principles are: -- Protection of environmentally sensitive areas -- A general land use plan that balances Village of Harrisburg, one is the largest jurisdiction by land area within of Pleasant Township’s environmental protection and responsible neighboring communities the Big Darby Accord planning area, with 45 growth percent, or 24,000 acres, of the planning area. -- A general land use plan that recognizes existing sewer and wastewater treatment Purpose capacities, while taking into account the rights accorded watershed landowners The Big Darby Accord was created with the under current zoning intention to serve as a multi-jurisdictional guide -- Growth areas will be served by adequate for development and conservation. The plan public facilities, particularly central sewer provides a long-term vision and general land -- A development policy that provides for use plan for the future. The Big Darby Accord mechanisms to acquire environmentally brings together multiple interests in an effort to sensitive areas protect and preserve the watershed while pro- -- A memorandum of understanding among viding guidance for managed growth. The adop- Accord members to implement the agreed tion of the Accord ended a three and half year upon plan development moratorium. The plan builds upon previous planning efforts and studies including, -- Development without the condition of the External Advisory Group, the Ohio EPA annexation Total Maximum Daily Load Report for the Big -- Mechanisms for cooperative revenue Darby Watershed, and the Hellbranch Watershed sharing among Accord members -- Water quality, biological integrity and Homes and out-buildings Forum. The Pleasant Township Comprehensive reinforce Pleasant Plan builds upon the foundations of the Accord, adaptive management Township’s rural feel All images: Franklin County Current Conditions 51

These principals and the Accord itself pro- conservation zones and conservation develop- vided guidance for the creation of the Pleasant ment overlays. The map calls for commercial Township future land use plan. uses along Harrisburg Pike near the intersection of Interstate 71. It also calls for a combination of office, retail and residential at the following Pleasant Township Land Use locations: -- Pleasant Corners at Harrisburg Pike and Current Land Use London-Groveport Road -- Along Alkire Road in Georgesville The current land uses in Pleasant Township are -- Near the intersection of Norton Road and predominantly agricultural. The southwest por- London-Groveport Road in Darbydale tion, especially, is dominated by agriculture and large lot residential. The township has received Darbydale, Georgesville and Timberlake are increasing growth and development pressure slated for residential suburban high density from the northeast, with the expansions of (4-12 units per acre). There are two small areas Columbus and Grove City. indicated for medium density residential development (4-8 units per acre) south of the intersection of Opossum Run Road and Harrisburg- Future Land Use Map Georgesville Road and east of the intersection The future land uses in Pleasant Township of London-Groveport Road and Norton Road in are primarily agricultural, environmental Darbydale. 52 Current Conditions | Pleasant Township Comprehensive Plan