[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6219418,"mediaKeyId","3622816-cd4ef42fa415445d1bd6c4e70ef64a3d","parentId",3622816,"title","Water department offers free lead‑service-line inspections and replacements for older homes","audioSeconds",107,"startMs",4940000,"endMs",5047000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3622816-cd4ef42fa415445d1bd6c4e70ef64a3d&start=4940&end=5047","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3622816-cd4ef42fa415445d1bd6c4e70ef64a3d/thumbnail_4940000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6219418/Ohio/Water-department-offers-free-leadservice-line-inspections-and-replacements-for-older-homes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219418-62be716389a579db7a759a47aee7603d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445852&Signature=DRcJ9zqT7SHfzHvO2wDJKr4rIjo9VDr3ysRxqPEJXNZhXgEQBR2vEWm3wJ2tSgBbYgRDArOYFWUQozvttn9SHZPQSWvXNTUpf7w2Dg-i9UwOUFUeSVEXXIbgrCR1-rOh4gjeVDBkvrjJZdH1d43LqMmuRPeG1~2xyg42e1EDB~-e~fBPkc-upIUp2K8ib0EIIfJw5rnOZ9Ix9wIllfpYbqZ3kGL2gHyBZ~9xOwqNFXdiW3asn67WGDC5ui7-axcv5EkDlqKyz6DwuwH748Dw7c937GppARC4UiKqS4Q-p7TOqCzKzU5KEk0MIQUQdxbU6IcZx2crv6naIV3u7Mbovw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Newark OH","date","2025-06-02T22:57:39Z","article","A representative of the Newark Water Department told council the city is continuing a program to inspect and replace lead or galvanized water service lines for eligible homes.

“If you have a lead service line or you had a house that was built before 1982, I want to continue to push that to residents,” Brandon Fox said. He asked residents to contact the water department at the number provided in the meeting (670‑7940) or visit the city website for information.

Fox told council the city recently awarded its seventh contract to replace 1,600 additional service lines free of charge and invited residents to get their lines inspected. The announcement asked residents to spread the word to neighbors who may have older service lines.

The water department’s remarks were given as part of the city officials’ reports; council did not take separate formal action on the program during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Newark City Council Meeting 6/2/25","oneSentenceSummary","Brandon Fox of the Newark Water Department urged residents with homes built before 1982 to contact the department for a free inspection and possible replacement of galvanized or lead service lines; the city has contracted to replace about 1,600 service lines free of charge.","taxTitle","Newark City Council, Newark, Licking County, Ohio","taxId",68992,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219422,"Council invokes emergency rule to appoint discretionary charter review commission",164,323000,487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3622816-cd4ef42fa415445d1bd6c4e70ef64a3d&start=323&end=487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3622816-cd4ef42fa415445d1bd6c4e70ef64a3d/thumbnail_323000.jpg","/articles/6219422/Ohio/Council-invokes-emergency-rule-to-appoint-discretionary-charter-review-commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219422-b71dacabcef21fea839e276fa0fe4fa1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445852&Signature=jpBoQvFlDl09niWoBamOVoy-XZYgZVk~uEy6rPFCH4J~tWK7odP4AHwvic2rmoWguUWc8fjKl9GwXt7qNJfsTPe-XeSdS8nDe6mnPM0I7vi3Q0EE8cazHmWKaJ41gIgfcVe-g~HD1Dpy11u8yHlfyID6f6wjrTAroGM89sTrG~AvcD1o00khfulodf1F2dx7oGr1eR-kXtLKY2PxLSFS8NXqRWVIh-UJBOocI9Ox5ZlQ~VWQbVgh1MlKdmI14nhuu3mJxrY-98x3LWxn4xI4GG1l8qNGjYWu5dxBmwCSIJkBJyn3wv5ncTZcHkUf3l~Vzh59ids0dREvP7HQaQvYIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Newark City Council adopted Resolution 25-40 by a unanimous roll call to appoint a discretionary charter review commission under Article 11.05 of the Charter of the City of Newark, Ohio, and declared the measure an emergency to allow time for any ballot scheduling tied to board elections.

Council President read the resolution, and Councilmember Marmey moved to adopt it under Rule 11; Councilmember Barker seconded. “Resolution appointing a discretionary charter review commission pursuant to article 11.05 of the Charter of the City of Newark, Ohio and declaring an emergency,” the clerk read on the record.

Council discussion cited the need to clarify the status of certain director positions and whether they should be classified (subject to vacation accrual and other personnel rules) or remain appointed officials under mayoral discretion. Councilmember Marmee (spoke in favor) said the change is timely because an interim human resources director is in place and the commission offers a chance to resolve classification conflicts in the charter language.

Council called the roll; the clerk recorded ten yes votes and the resolution passed. The resolution will lead to formation of the charter review commission; the meeting record does not specify commission membership or an implementation timetable.

Council members emphasized the process is intended to correct an identified conflict in the charter language and personnel classification rather than to restructure day‑to‑day administration immediately. Next steps indicated by council and staff will include formation and appointment of commission members and any follow‑up recommendations to council for charter amendments.","By unanimous roll call, Newark City Council adopted resolution 25-40 to create a discretionary charter review commission under Article 11.05 of the City Charter and declared the resolution an emergency to meet ballot timelines for upcoming board elections.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219427,"Council approves rezoning for Thornwood Drive; neighbors warn of traffic, noise and safety impacts",3378,702000,4080000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3622816-cd4ef42fa415445d1bd6c4e70ef64a3d&start=702&end=4080","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3622816-cd4ef42fa415445d1bd6c4e70ef64a3d/thumbnail_702000.jpg","/articles/6219427/Ohio/Council-approves-rezoning-for-Thornwood-Drive-neighbors-warn-of-traffic-noise-and-safety-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219427-97324651547e29f005c11c8b6beb615c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445852&Signature=Pn9DuX8nljw30pFDz7QdebRtxlZ0Sl3bYMnorPtDGSMDnaY1sgwZrsNaxexBiiSTeXWJpXtFyixQCKb0ddYOtY48iRIhz4-jaoblr-NdquSfsBgUyiBkJ3V2GMXEl3ZEPamTxhqTb37xsSjJ~VyxJqgI0N6qN-YNhtPBHOD11Hvq0oeYiiIeSLF5dUZL3wQlLL2gwZ7Z6ghjFHU045XX1-~q6VLKenv~HD8lWHWjYb5PjzmOXXmxZUGM9aaxWS1lZc5VB04OwOwzEX6GsU6c9Oc5R~UgERuHeZJcfKS3sDPokdUSGQpIIdX8s1edp5S53aTUuA01JY~7rvhv5USnNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Newark City Council voted to rezone two parcels on Thornwood Drive to a higher-density multifamily classification, approving ordinances 25-09 and 25-10 after hours of public comment and debate.

The ordinances change the zoning for 330 and 360 Thornwood Drive from MFC (multifamily condo) to MFH (multifamily high-density) to allow the developer’s proposed expansion of the Trailhead/Trailhead Vista project. Planning staff and the city planning commission recommended the rezoning.

Supporters, including the project’s attorney and developer representatives, told council the rezoning will enable additional housing and infrastructure improvements. “This legislation opens the zoning map for the subject properties to further facilitate the creation of new housing in Newark and the improvement of area infrastructure,” said David Hodge, attorney for the applicant. Developer representatives said the phase‑2 plan is not a site‑plan approval but noted commitments tied to the project, including a $500,000 pledge for roadway infrastructure and about $350,000 in permanent fees paid to the city and county; the developer also said it has set aside $100,000 for the adjacent Reddington Village association.

Residents who live near the proposed site urged council to reject or slow the rezoning, citing traffic, noise and safety. “Traffic is a big problem for us,” said Bill Stewart, a Reddington Village resident. Multiple neighbors described high speeds at the roundabout at West Main Street and Thornwood Drive, engine‑braking noise from trucks, and concerns that additional housing will strain emergency response and local schools. “We are the ones that are gonna stay there and that will have to deal with this forever,” said Debbie DeBlazer, a nearby resident.

The developer presented traffic estimates prepared with city engineering input showing that under current zoning the site could yield about 222 units and that the proposed layout of about 254 units would increase traffic on the nearby northbound approaches by roughly 3.3% to 3.6% compared with current zoning. The developer and the city engineer stressed the traffic study was preliminary and not final.

Council discussion reflected the split in public comment. Supporters of the rezoning pointed to the planning commission recommendation, the developer’s infrastructure commitments and the city’s need for housing and tax base. Councilmember Raff said the change affects allowable density rather than the exact building design and that rejecting the rezoning would not prevent development but would limit unit counts. Opponents on the council cited density, traffic and public‑safety concerns; one councilmember said they could not support the measure because it should have less density.

Several speakers urged the city to act on specific infrastructure and safety measures connected to the project: reopen Cherry Valley Bridge, revisit roundabout design, enforce prohibitions on engine‑compression braking in the city limits, and expedite traffic studies that incorporate planned housing developments in nearby areas. The Reddington Village homeowners association withdrew a formal objection to the project, with Beth Barker, the association treasurer, saying the HOA is financially stable and that the board chose to work with the developer: “We are very flush, HOA. We are not accepting that money because we need that money… we decided it was better to be a good neighbor than a bad neighbor.”

Council held separate final votes on the two ordinances. Ordinance 25-09 (330 Thornwood Drive) passed with seven yes votes, one no and two abstentions. Ordinance 25-10 (360 Thornwood Drive) passed with seven yes votes, one no and two abstentions. (Roll call recorded under the council member surnames given in the meeting transcript.)

The rezoning approvals change the zoning classifications only; they do not constitute site‑plan approval or building permits. Council members, residents and the developer noted several implementation steps remain, including final traffic analyses, site plan review and any infrastructure work the city coordinates or accepts. The developer indicated phase 1 is already under construction and described expected start of certain roadway improvements “in the course of the next 2 to 3 weeks.”","Newark City Council voted to rezone two Thornwood Drive parcels from multifamily-condo to higher-density multifamily, approving ordinances 25-09 and 25-10 after developer presentations and extensive public comment raising concerns about traffic, noise, emergency response and property values.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Water department offers free lead‑service-line inspections and replacements for older homes

Council invokes emergency rule to appoint discretionary charter review commission

Council approves rezoning for Thornwood Drive; neighbors warn of traffic, noise and safety impacts