Beavercreek council moves new-community-authority ordinance to second reading after amendment on board appointments

Beavercreek Mayor Don Adams and city council held a public hearing on a developer-filed petition to create a Beavercreek Community Authority, a statutorily authorized “new community authority” (NCA) that would finance and manage certain improvements in a planned housing development.

The hearing addressed the statutory steps required to organize an NCA and the draft local ordinance, Ordinance 25-17. The city staff presenter explained that NCAs are created under Ohio statute, can levy a community development charge that runs with the land (not a property tax), and may issue debt and collect fees to operate and maintain community facilities. The presenter said the petition and ordinance cover 121 homes with an estimated minimum average sale value of $550,000 and a proposed community development charge of 4.5 mills for 30 years; staff estimated the charge would produce more than $3,000,000 over the period under conservative assumptions.

Why this matters: If adopted, the NCA would allow the developer to collect a 4.5-mill, 30-year community development charge that runs with the property and can be used to repay debt or support operations for community facilities. The city also would appoint a majority of the NCA board, giving the municipality representation in choosing how those funds are spent.

Discussion and changes: During council discussion a resident, Bob Trout of 2187 Bassett Court, urged council to be more specific about the ordinance’s description of infrastructure improvements and voiced concern that the assessment equates to roughly $1,000 a year per household for 30 years without a clear accounting of uses. The presenter responded that, as filed, the petition specifies a 4.5-mill, 30-year community development charge and that, in this particular filing, state law and the petition do not allow an extension beyond the 30 years.

Vice Mayor Bales moved — and the council seconded and approved — an amendment inserting specific names into section 6 to serve on the initial seven‑person NCA board: the city’s parks and recreation and culture director as the city representative and three citizen members named Christina Heaton, Candy Meyer and Doug Getz. After the amendment passed on a voice vote, council voted to move Ordinance 25-17 as amended to a second reading; the ordinance was not adopted at this meeting.

Clarifying details provided at the hearing included: the developer filed the petition; the community development charge is a non–property‑tax lien on parcels if unpaid; the NCA board will have seven members, four appointed by the city; homeowners would be aware of the charge before purchase; and, per staff, this petition’s 30‑year charge cannot be extended. Resident concerns focused on the charge’s size, duration, and the level of specificity in the ordinance’s description of improvements.

What comes next: The ordinance was amended to name board members and advanced to a second reading; council will consider final passage at a future meeting. The public hearing record remains part of the ordinance file.