Findlay committee backs drafting post‑1994 CRA ordinance and reviews Shady Grove proposal

The Findlay City strategic planning committee voted to have city staff draft enabling language for a post‑1994 Community Reinvestment Area ordinance and to coordinate the work with fiscal consultant Andrew Brossard and affected townships.

The item brought forward by city staff would not itself grant an abatement for any specific project, but would establish a framework allowing council to consider post‑'94 CRA abatements and related incentives on a case‑by‑case basis. "This is just saying we are willing to consider post 94 CRAs," a staff member told the committee. Under the draft language discussed, abatements could be negotiated up to 75% for as many as 15 years; abatements exceeding 75% would require school‑board approval under Ohio law.

Why it matters: the change replaces the old pre‑'94 mechanism that offered automatic, formulaic abatements for qualifying investment. Committee members and the fiscal officer emphasized that a new framework would give the city more flexibility but also requires clearer internal procedures, expert review and transparency so council can judge each proposal on its own merits.

During discussion,…