Powell City Council Regular Meeting – November 18, 2025

The Powell City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 47 Hall Street, Powell, Ohio. The agenda included the consent calendar, several resolutions and ordinances, the 2026 budget, a lengthy debate over Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) tax abatements for the Corinthian development, and a presentation on the Powell Development Corporation (PDC) reorganization. An executive session was also listed on the agenda for confidential economic development negotiations under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(8).

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes from the November 5, 2025, regular City Council meeting.
• Accepted monthly reports from Police, Finance, Human Resources, Public Service and Engineering, Economic Development, Community Engagement, and Planning and Zoning.
• Acknowledged the Division of Liquor Control notice of an LLC stockholder change for K Club LLC (permit class D5I) at 3737 Village Club Drive.
• No items were removed from the consent agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the citizen participation portion of the agenda.
• During discussion of Ordinance 2025-27, David Warner of Corinthian Fine Home, 6045 Memorial Drive, addressed the council. He noted that the developer had provided a package of information to council the prior week. Corinthian representatives respectfully requested that council include the five Corinthian homes in any amended CRA-related ordinance and allow them to file applications for a CRA tax abatement without further delay. They stated that the city would benefit the same whether the lots sat vacant or received the abatement, and they expressed concern that Corinthian would be treated as a commercial project rather than a residential one. One representative noted, "I have never heard of anything under four units be considered commercial before," and emphasized that without the abatement, Corinthian would face procedural hurdles that other residential developments receiving abatements would not, including assigning the abatement agreement on each home sale and providing financial information to the city. They stated that public comment from surrounding residents had been uniformly supportive of including Corinthian in the CRA.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 2025-41 – Supporting the Ohio assessment and asbestos survey at 47 Hall Street. Staff noted that council’s legislative authority was required to move forward, and that there was no cost to the city other than staff time.
• Resolution 2025-42 – Authorizing the asbestos survey of 47 Hall Street, the building in which the meeting was held. Staff noted this differed from past practice because it involved surveying the building itself.
• Resolution 2025-43 – Approving an agreement between the City of Powell and Delaware County for the FY26 budget. Staff described it as creating efficiency and a seamless project and requested council support to proceed.
• Resolution 2025-44 – Approving the appointment of the Finance Director (referred to as "Sam"). The City Manager explained that the position was appointed by the City Manager but required council consent and authorization, and that an oath would be administered. Council questions were invited.
• Ordinance 2025-26 – The 2026 budget. The Mayor noted the document had been discussed by the Finance Committee and referred to council as a first reading. No additional feedback had been received. The City Manager described the 2026 budget as including another 12 months of progressive steps moving the city forward. A roll call was held.
• Ordinance 2025-27 – CRA tax abatement for the Corinthian development. This item drew extended debate. Council members appeared divided over whether to amend the agenda to consider a more expansive CRA proposal first, and whether to treat Corinthian differently from other projects. One council member argued, "If we're gonna pull Corinthian out and look at it, we'll have to do it for every empty lot that's not sold in the Encore project," while another stated, "You can't make rules for one site and not the other." A different council member acknowledged, "We will never be able to provide equality for everybody," while another noted there were many people in the audience with similar concerns and that people who bought homes believing they would receive an abatement should get it. One council member stated they had re-watched every CRA discussion since the program was approved in 2023 and argued that what occurred later had not been contemplated when the original 300-acre, 100% for 15 years abatement was adopted. A council member also questioned what the approval process for a commercial abatement would look like, and whether voting only for the "T" district (with 20-plus lots and no development plan) made sense. The council ultimately took a roll call vote to amend the agenda, with a member explaining it was logistically sensible to vote on the more expansive proposal first. Later in the meeting, a council member asked whether the ordinance could be reconsidered given the large public turnout; staff suggested reconsideration was not necessary, and the council indicated it would return to the matter after finishing the rest of the agenda.
• Ordinance 2025-30 – Related to the CIFA (Community Improvement Financing Area). Staff noted this item was possible "due to favorable collections within the CIFA" and stated the city was excited to bring forward impactful savings to the community on an important program that had shaped the city.
• Powell Development Corporation (PDC) Reorganization – Sean Hughes, Economic Development Director, presented a revised draft of the PDC Code of Regulations. He reminded council that in 2023, council adopted the Camoine Associates Economic Development Strategy, which included enhancing the PDC’s capacity. The revised code would create five working committees that report to the board of directors, and the board would be expanded to include five initial members appointed by city council plus four members nominated by a newly established nominating committee and voted on by the board itself. Staggered terms would prevent all members from rolling off at once when the new board begins in 2026. Hughes described this as "a movement away from complete Powell control to a more... professional group of members who can take this corporation to the next step," while noting legislative authority remains with council because the PDC’s funding comes from the city. A council member who had served 12 years on a CIC said the new structure was a reduction from past practice but was necessary to gain breadth of knowledge and experience, and questioned what power the board would actually have beyond voting on grants to local businesses. Another council member observed that they, along with Sean and Andy, now control the five-member board and should begin taking action in December. The PDC board was scheduled to vote on the revised Code of Regulations at its November 25, 2025 meeting.
• Resolution 2025-45 – The meeting transitioned to this resolution imposing a temporary moratorium on CRA-related applications. Staff noted that council previously enacted a moratorium while discussions continued on the final contours of the CRA map, and this resolution continues that restriction. A council member asked how quickly a commercial abatement approval could be processed and was told it could be as little as one council meeting if all terms were agreed and rules suspended, or longer if negotiations were needed.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved unanimously with no items removed.
• Resolutions 2025-41, 2025-42, 2025-43, and 2025-44 were presented and advanced; Resolution 2025-44 confirmed the Mayor’s expectation that the Finance Director appointee would take the oath of office shortly.
• Ordinance 2025-26 (2026 budget) was discussed as a first reading and a roll call was taken.
• A motion to amend the agenda for Ordinance 2025-27 carried by roll call, allowing the more expansive CRA proposal to be considered first. The final disposition of Ordinance 2025-27 could not be confirmed from the transcript; discussion of a motion to reconsider followed, with staff stating reconsideration was not necessary, and the item was deferred until after the rest of the agenda.
• The Powell Development Corporation was scheduled to vote on the revised Code of Regulations on November 25, 2025, with the new board structure slated to take effect in 2026.
• Resolution 2025-45 (temporary moratorium on CRA applications) was before the council as the meeting segment transitioned; the council also had a deliberative discussion about the CRA approval process and timeline.