Plain City Council previews $4M capital plan, proposes temporary mobile-vendor moratorium and rescinds Creekview preliminary approval

Plain City’s Village Council met Nov. 25 and conducted a routine agenda of reports, committee updates and a handful of formal actions while beginning work on the village’s 2025 budget and local zoning for mobile vendors.

Village Administrator Haley Lupton presented the first reading of the proposed 2025 budget, saying the plan identifies roughly $4 million in capital expenditures of which about $2.8 million are expected to be grant-funded. Lupton said income tax revenue is forecast to continue on its current trajectory and that the second reading is scheduled for Dec. 9, 2024. Council President M. Terry thanked staff for updated projections and asked that future budget updates include specific capital projects.

The budget discussion was joined by a request from local business owner Tim Dawson, who asked Council to consider sponsoring the community event “Rock the Clock” in the 2025 budget to offset rising event costs and slim margins at the event.

Council also addressed mobile food vendors. Village Planner Derek Hutchinson recommended a temporary moratorium on processing and issuing mobile vendor licenses under Chapter 735 because the existing zoning code governs only permanent structures. Hutchinson said the moratorium would give staff time to draft zoning regulations and would not affect planned events or vendors with existing licenses; Council heard clarification that approved mobile vendor licenses are currently valid for one year.

On a procedural matter tied to land-use review, Director of Law Paul-Michael La Fayette explained that Council had reviewed the preliminary development plan for Creekview Commerce Park before the Planning & Zoning Commission completed its review and that the developer later proposed minor changes. To correct the sequencing, Mr. Terry moved to rescind Council’s prior approval of PUD-24-7 so the Commission and Council can review the updated plan; the motion passed unanimously.

Council took several unanimous, mostly noncontroversial votes: it approved Resolution 53-2024 authorizing donation of abandoned bicycles; appointed Steve Lebold to serve on the Plain City Area Development Corporation (motion by Ms. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Sintz); and cancelled the Dec. 23 regular meeting by unanimous consent, setting the organizational meeting for Jan. 8, 2025.

Mr. Dreier briefed Council on a Division of Liquor Control process that allows municipalities to object to liquor-license renewals and request a public hearing by submitting legal grounds and a supporting statement drafted by counsel; the deadline for an objection and hearing request is Jan. 2, 2025. Council took the information under advisement and did not file any objection at the meeting.

Two executive sessions were held: the Council entered executive session at 7:20 p.m. to consider the purchase of property for public purposes (ORC 121.22(G)(2)), and again at 8:06 p.m. to consider confidential information related to an applicant for economic development assistance (ORC 121.22(G)(8)). Both sessions were listed as attended by staff and officials; both were closed to the public and no votes were reported while in session.

The meeting opened and closed with short community recognitions: Mayor Jody Carney presented a community-signed appreciation document to the Police Department gathered during Steam Threshers, and Police Chief Dale McKee presented a custom blanket to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis in recognition of their nonprofit "Keith’s Comfort Blankets." The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Agenda amendment approving addition of an executive session (motion: M. Terry; second: T. Harriman): approved unanimously (all present). - Minutes (Nov. 18, 2024) approval (motion: J. Sintz; second: A. Lewis): approved unanimously. - Appointment — Steve Lebold to Plain City Area Development Corporation (motion: K. Ferguson; second: J. Sintz): approved unanimously. - Motion to rescind prior approval of PUD-24-7 (Creekview Commerce Park) so Planning & Zoning can review updated plan (motion: M. Terry; second: T. Harriman): approved unanimously. - Resolution 53-2024 (donation of abandoned bicycles) (motion: M. Terry; second: J. Sintz): approved unanimously.

What’s next - Second reading of the 2025 budget: Dec. 9, 2024, regular Council meeting. - Planning & Zoning Commission to review revised Creekview Commerce Park preliminary plan; Council will re-review following the Commission’s update. - Deadline to submit a request to the Division of Liquor Control to object to a liquor-permit renewal and request a public hearing: Jan. 2, 2025.