Four public hearings and the first look at the city of Delaware’s capital improvement program will be heard at today’s City Council meeting.
The first hearing, set for 6:30 p.m., is to decide whether an above-ground hydrogen storage tank can be installed at the Kroger Distribution Center on 2000 Nutter Lane.
A 15,150-gallon tank would be used to charge fuel cells for powering indoor loading equipment. “Staff from multiple departments, including the fire department, met with the applicant to review the proposal, and all are in general support,” states a council fact sheet. The planning commission approved the request earlier this month.
The next hearing, slated for 6:45 p.m., will be consideration of an addition to Woodward Elementary School. The 23,355-square-foot addition would include an 11-classroom building; a gymnasium/dining area; and 56 additional parking spaces. The 36,144-square-foot school was constructed in 1950 and remodeled in 1985.
The third hearing, scheduled for 7 p.m., is whether to approve Ohio Wesleyan University’s proposal to build student housing on Rowland Avenue. Four new small living units of themed housing have been proposed. The fifth phase of the development would involve the vacation of Rowland Avenue as part of the “jaywalk” portion of campus, with no vehicular traffic.
Finally, a public hearing at 7:15 p.m. will be on an ordinance which places a limit on spending from the city’s recreation tax levy. “This ordinance is the recommended alternative to placing similar language on the ballot,” states the fact sheet.
In order to have the hearings start on time, some items on the agenda may be moved up.
Before the hearings, council will be given a brief overview of the 2016-20 five-year capital improvement program. Council will have three readings of the program, which projects the cost of future capital projects and equipment purchases for the city. There will also be a work session, where council members may amend the plan. The program must be approved before it can be part of the 2016 budget.
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1 S. Sandusky St., with hearings starting at 6:30 p.m. Depending on the amount of discussion beforehand, the hearings may not start exactly on time, but cannot be heard earlier than they were scheduled.
