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Compaq/Star Baker CRA incentive proposal gets first reading after public presentation
Summary
Council heard a public presentation from Justin Starlin on a proposed Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) agreement for Compaq LLC/Star Baker; the item received a first reading and was not advanced because of a recusal that prevented rule suspension. Starlin said the project would retain 27 local jobs and add at least 10 more.
Ordinance 2026-06, which would authorize a CRA tax-incentive agreement with Compaq LLC and Star Baker 2570 LLC, was presented Feb. 17 and given its first reading; the council did not suspend the rules because a member recused, so no final vote occurred.
Justin Starlin, who identified himself as a co-owner of Compaq and Star Baker, described the proposed project as a significant industrial investment and said the applicant expects to retain 27 existing local jobs and create at least 10 new full-time positions. "This project's a scale that could be located in multiple jurisdictions," Starlin said, arguing the incentive helps make the site feasible because of large earthwork and site-preparation costs.
Council members pressed staff and the applicant on specifics: topography and extensive earthwork were raised as cost drivers, and staff said the site could require substantial cut-and-fill to reach a buildable grade. Jonathan (planning staff) noted the parcel has challenging slopes and was not included in a recent county industrial-site inventory for that reason.
Council discussion also referenced Ohio Revised Code section 5709.671 and the statutory framework for CRA/TIF incentives; members emphasized the need to match the level of incentive to community benefit. One councilmember said the project’s scale relative to the number of new jobs required close review; another said the retention of existing jobs combined with new hires made the proposal more attractive.
Because Councilmember Jose recused himself, the council did not have the votes necessary to suspend the rules; the item remains at first reading and will return for future consideration if and when the council schedules it for further readings.
Next steps: applicant reporting and staff analysis of project economics, community benefit and infrastructure needs will be required before council considers a final ordinance.
