‘Towmip Tomes Joss Go Jue Fal Ofer “Township Adminintor Assia Tommy [Adminrator for man Resor Amines Tomah Operstins See Sen AICP Fie Chit Planning Zoning Dictor Pal} Dene alC Pablic Work Director Shes Diners Law Direct Anderson Township 1850 Fe Mie Rot Ants Tey Oo 0286 sinesa00 AcersonipOH gor September 27, 2022 ‘To the Anderson Township Communit During a recent Anderson Township Board of Trustees meeting, residents raised several questions regarding the Township's iwvolvement with the Forest Hills School District and the proposed consolidation of Anderson and Turpin High Schools. This open letter to the community isin response to those questions, For years, the Anderson Township Board of Township Trustees (“Township”) has collaborated withthe Forest Hills Board of Education (“District”) where the law allows by constructing sidewalks connecting schools, participation on the School Safety Committee, and funding for the School Resource Officer among many other projects. Such collaboration is beneficial to our community. However, the Township and the District are separate and distinct political subdivisions within the State of Ohio. Each elected body, the Board of Township Trustees, and the Board of Education, has sole governing authority ofits respective political subdivision and responsibilities as outlined by the ‘Ohio Revised Code. As such, its the elected members of the Board of dation who are responsible for all governmental activities, decisions, and policymaking related to any proposal involving the schools and school property, The Township has not, cannot, and will not intervene in such matters. |When Rich Neumann, Senior Development Advisor with Elevar Design Group, approached individual Trustees to discuss his concept fora “transformational project” that he believed would tenefit the entire ‘community, each Trustee listened and then refered Mr. Neumann to Township staff, On August 15, 2022, Mr. Neumann, and others from Eleva, Bradley Payne Advisors, and Dinsmore & Soh, met with Township staff informing them of their idea to consolidate Anderson and Turpin High Schools. District ‘lected and appointed officals were not present, a definitive proposal was not presented, and no action was requested of the Township. The proposers did ‘ask about the and use plan and zoning process, should this idea advance, That process is preserbed by the Ohio Revised Code ani the Township advised that there would be no (and could not be) any preconce ved determination as to‘Anderson Township Community September 27, 2022 Page 2 zoning. The statutory process must be followed. The meeting was preliminary in nature and consistent with meetings requested by other developers, engineers, and architects considering developing private or public property throughout the Township. Township staff made clear that any proposed development was a matter for the Board of Education, not the Township Trustees. Residents have questioned whether the Township's interest in attracting a hotel has played any role in Mr. Neumann's proposal related tothe Anderson High Schoel site. The short answer is “no.” Township discussions surrounding the need fora hotel began in January 2006 as a prior Board of Trustees prepared for development along the Ohio Riverfront stemming from the Township's land use plan for that area. The constuction of the Ohio River Trail, Belterra Park Gaming, PNC Pavilion, expansion of Merey Hospital, ‘an inerease in Anderson Park District regional events, and the significant level cf private ‘and public investment within and surrounding Anderson Township led tothe continuation of those discussions over the years and, in 2017, the Board of Towaship ‘Trustees commissioned a market study forthe purpose of evaluating demand fora hotel. ‘The study focused on two locations including the Ohio Riverfront, across from Belterra Park Gaming. The study was updated in 2019, prior tothe ultimate sale of the Anderson Center Staton. On May 19, 2022, atthe request ofthe volunteer-member Anderson ‘Township Economic Development Committe, the Board authorized an update to that study to see if demand had changed after the pandemic and the construction of rew hotels in neighboring communities. The draft study is available onthe Township's website, Neither the current, or prior, study contemplated construction ofa hotel on any District- ‘owned property ‘The Board of Trustees appreciates the comments and concerns expressed by resdents but ‘wishes to clarify that any decisions related to reconfiguration or consolidation 0 schools Within the Forest Hills School Dist ress solely with the Board of Education, On behalf ofthe Board of Township Trustees. Sincerely, Viste ke Vieky b= ‘Township Adminitreor