Bellefontaine council fails to override mayor’s veto on 200-acre annexation

Bellefontaine City Council failed to overturn Mayor Chrisman’s veto of Ordinance 25-31, which would have annexed 200.827 acres owned by Belquaire Incorporated, after a roll-call vote on reconsideration produced 4 yes and 2 no votes. Under Ohio law and council rules, overturning a mayoral veto requires two-thirds of elected members — five votes — so the veto stood.

The reconsideration and vote followed an extended public-comment period in which residents sharply debated the annexation and the prospect of a future solar project on the property. Jenna James, a council member at large who was absent and whose written statement was read into the record, said she would have voted no if present: “I have made the decision that if I were there tonight, my vote would be no on the annexation,” citing constituent opposition and concern that annexation could be a step toward a solar farm. Diane Hagar, a resident who identified herself as living at 1105 Milligan Road, urged council to “support the mayor in his veto,” stating, “The people don't want it.”

Supporters of annexation argued the city would secure control of the parcel and future tax revenue by bringing the land into Bellefontaine’s corporate limits. One proponent, who identified himself as Scott, told the council the annexation would allow the city to guide development and avoid less-desirable uses such as hog barns or other agricultural operations. Scott said the intent was to give the city control over future proposals: “I want to develop it. I don't wanna put hog barns.” Opponents countered that annexation should not be used to pre-judge whether a solar project would be approved and that conditional-use and rezoning steps would still be required before utility-scale solar could be built.

Speakers also disputed baseline facts offered by proponents and opponents. A number of commenters said annexation does not automatically permit a solar farm because the current text of the ordinance establishes residential R-1 zoning and subsequent rezoning and conditional-use approvals would be required to allow industrial or solar uses. Others raised environmental and economic concerns about solar panel manufacturing overseas and about decommissioning; one resident said the city engineer had told him that commercial solar projects must post a bond to ensure removal of panels at end of life.

The council’s procedural discussion preceding the vote reiterated that the Ohio Revised Code and council rules require a two-thirds majority of elected members (five votes) to overturn a mayoral veto. A motion to reconsider was made and seconded; the roll call returned four yes votes and two no votes, which was insufficient to reverse the veto. As a result, Ordinance 25-31 failed and the property remains outside Bellefontaine city limits.

The meeting record shows the annexation matter had been approved at an earlier meeting by a majority but was vetoed by the mayor before tonight’s reconsideration attempt. No further action on the ordinance was taken at the meeting.