(A) As used in this section:

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(1) “Revitalization district” means a bounded area that includes or will include a combination of entertainment, retail, educational, sporting, social, cultural, or arts establishments within close proximity to some or all of the following types of establishments within the district, or other types of establishments similar to these:

(a) Hotels;

(b) Restaurants;

(c) Retail sales establishments;

(d) Enclosed shopping centers;

(e) Museums;

(f) Performing arts theaters;

(g) Motion picture theaters;

(h) Night clubs;

(i) Convention facilities;

(j) Sports facilities;

(k) Entertainment facilities or complexes;

(l) Any combination of the establishments described in divisions (A)(1)(a) to (k) of this section that provide similar services to the community.

(2) “Municipal corporation” means a municipal corporation with a population of less than one hundred thousand.

(3) “Township” means a township with a population in its unincorporated area of less than one hundred thousand.

(B) Any owner of property located in a municipal corporation seeking to have that property, or that property and other surrounding property, designated as a revitalization district shall file an application seeking this designation with the mayor of the municipal corporation in which that property is located. Any owner of property located in the unincorporated area of a township seeking to have that property, or that property and other surrounding property, designated as a revitalization district shall file an application seeking this designation with the board of township trustees of the township in whose unincorporated area that property is located. An application to designate an area as a revitalization district shall contain all of the following:

(1) The applicant’s name and address;

(2) A map or survey of the proposed revitalization district in sufficient detail to identify the boundaries of the district and the property owned by the applicant;

(3) A general statement of the nature and types of establishments described in division (A) of this section that are or will be located within the proposed revitalization district and any other establishments located in the proposed revitalization district that are not described in division (A) of this section;

(4) If some or all of the establishments within the proposed revitalization district have not yet been developed, the proposed time frame for completing the development of these establishments;

(5) Evidence that the uses of land within the proposed revitalization district are in accord with the municipal corporation’s or township’s master zoning plan or map; and

(6) A handling and processing fee to accompany the application, payable to the applicable municipal corporation or township, in an amount determined by that municipal corporation or township.

(C) An application relating to an area located in a municipal corporation shall be addressed and submitted to the mayor of the municipal corporation in which the area described in the application is located. The mayor, within thirty days after receiving the application, shall submit the application with the mayor’s recommendation to the legislative authority of the municipal corporation. An application relating to an area located in the unincorporated area of a township shall be addressed and submitted to the board of township trustees of the township in whose unincorporated area the area described in the application is located. The application is a public record for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code upon its receipt by the mayor or board of township trustees.

Within thirty days after it receives the application and the mayor’s recommendations relating to the application, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, by notice published once a week for two consecutive weeks in one newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, shall notify the public that the application is on file in the office of the clerk of the municipal corporation and is available for inspection by the public during regular business hours. Within thirty days after it receives the application, the board of township trustees, by notice published once a week for two consecutive weeks in one newspaper of general circulation in the township or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, shall notify the public that the application is on file in the office of the township fiscal officer and is available for inspection by the public during regular business hours. The notice shall also indicate the date and time of any public hearing by the municipal legislative authority or board of township trustees on the application.

Within seventy-five days after the date the application is filed with the mayor of a municipal corporation, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation by ordinance or resolution shall approve or disapprove the application based on whether the proposed revitalization district does or will substantially contribute to entertainment, retail, educational, sporting, social, cultural, or arts opportunities for the community. The community considered shall at a minimum include the municipal corporation in which the community is located. Any approval of an application shall be by an affirmative majority vote of the legislative authority. Not more than one revitalization district shall be designated within the municipal corporation.

Within seventy-five days after the date the application is filed with a board of township trustees, the board by resolution shall approve or disapprove the application based on whether the proposed revitalization district does or will substantially contribute to entertainment, retail, educational, sporting, social, cultural, or arts opportunities for the community. The community considered shall at a minimum include the township in which the community is located. Any approval of an application shall be by an affirmative majority vote of the board of township trustees. Not more than one revitalization district shall be designated within the unincorporated area of the township.

If the municipal legislative authority or board of township trustees disapproves the application, the applicant may make changes in the application to secure its approval by the legislative authority or board of township trustees. Any area approved by the legislative authority or board of township trustees constitutes a revitalization district, and a local option election may be conducted in the district, as a type of community facility, under section 4301.356 of the Revised Code.

(D) All or part of an area designated as a revitalization district may lose this designation as provided in this division. The legislative authority of a municipal corporation in which a revitalization district is located, or the board of township trustees of the township in whose unincorporated area a revitalization district is located, after giving notice of its proposed action by publication once a week for two consecutive weeks in one newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation or township or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, may determine by ordinance or resolution in the case of the legislative authority of a municipal corporation, or by resolution in the case of a board of township trustees of a township, that all or part of the area fails to meet the standards described in this section for designation of an area as a revitalization district. If the legislative authority or board so determines, the area designated in the ordinance or resolution no longer constitutes a revitalization district.