Community Development Director John Creech told council Oct. 28 that the department recorded about $66,000,000 in total investment in 2024, up more than $10,000,000 from 2023, and that the city issued roughly 362 building permits and conducted about 500 inspections.

Creech listed major commercial projects and estimated investments: Cincinnati Childrens Applied Gene Therapy Center (about $48.8 million in renovation), Vandalia Rentals expansion (nearly $4 million), and other industrial and service investments including upgrades at UPS and Valvoline facilities. He said the Live Smart hotel project (a $17 million project) started construction in 2025 after planning approval in 2024.

Creech summarized land-use-board activity: the Board of Zoning Appeals heard 31 cases in 2024 (12 meetings) and Planning Commission held 19 cases; staff sent more than 150 notification letters to adjacent property owners for planning cases.

On electric-vehicle charging, Creech reported the convention-center chargers recorded 258 sessions in 2023 and 403 sessions in 2024; typical charging revenue was reported at $0.20 per kilowatt-hour and a 7-hour session yields roughly $8$9.

Creech outlined code-enforcement activity: approximately 700 cases in 2024, including property-maintenance, zoning and high-grass/weed complaints; common violations included inoperable vehicles, construction without permits, parking in unimproved areas and accumulation of trash.

Creech said staff completed a building-permit fee study and recommended no fee changes, noting Sharonvilles fee schedule is on par with regional peers and easier for builders to use. He also described a new practice of sending blanket courtesy letters to property owners about recurring issues such as shopping-cart collection and detention-basin maintenance.

In response to council questions, Creech explained that complaints made by phone better preserve caller anonymity than emailed public-record complaints and provided the code-enforcement email address for formal reports.