Findlay's request to annex falls short

Monday is the deadline for the owners of about 400 properties on the edges of Findlay to respond to a request to annex by the city. As of Tuesday, the owners of only 65 of the parcels had submitted letters of interest. In an effort to "clean up" the city's corporate limits, the list includes properties that are surrounded by the city corporation, which have not previously been annexed, properties that are contiguous to the corporation limits and/or properties that have an annexation agreement in place that the city would like to exercise. Since the initiative is city-led, processing, paperwork and all associated costs, including surveying, filing fees, etc., will be paid for and managed by the city. Holdout speaks out Linda Hein, 72, owns nearly five acres on Brookside Drive at the edge of Findlay's south end in Marion Township. Hein, who retired from the U.S. Army after a 26-year active duty career, said she was excited to buy a home near the city in 2006. Hein said she loves Findlay, volunteers often and isn't opposed to annexation, but said the city's zoning rules are not a good fit for her property or her lifestyle. Hein has not submitted a letter of interest, but is still concerned that she could be "outvoted" by her neighbors. Eleven property clusters surrounding Findlay have been identified for possible annexation. While city officials have said they don't want to force annexation, should 51% of property owners in one of the clusters agree to it, the city may move to force it. Brookside Drive is included in "Area 7" of the annexation plan, and includes 36 properties. As of Tuesday, 12 landowners had submitted letters of interest. That's short of the 18-plus needed for forced annexation. None of the clusters had reached the 51% threshold as of Tuesday. Five clusters had zero interest. Depending on the parcel, the move to the city could lower property owners' water and sewer bills and insurance rates and provide protection by Findlay's police and fire departments. Their average response time to an emergency call is 5 minutes. Trustees in Marion, Liberty and Allen townships, however, say Findlay is making a grab for their tax base, which will leave the townships less money to provide services to remaining township residents. Hein's property includes a barn measuring 40 feet by 80 feet with two newly-renovated horse stalls. The barn serves as an indoor riding ring and is located on the front of her property. Her surrounding land serves as grazing pasture, which means high grass, and the horse manure is "harrowed" and "not picked up like cat litter unless it's inside the barn," she said. Harrowing manure means breaking it down, spreading it out and exposing it to sunlight. The process kills parasites and the manure eventually decomposes and serves as fertilizer for the pasture. Hein said she can't guarantee the neighbors won't complain about noxious odors in the pasture. Her neighbor to the north raises a few heads of beef cattle, however, her neighbor to the south is a new subdivision. "Issues impacting on the number of animals and grazing land will greatly devalue property, especially since it is near the riding school where there may be a high demand for a property of this type," said Hein. Hein is referring to the University of Findlay's English Equestrian Center, located at 11178 Marion Township Road 201. Zoning changes that would create A1 agriculture zoning in the city, which could possibly address some of Hein's concerns, have been approved by Findlay City Council's Planning and Zoning Committee and are now slated for review by the City Planning Commission. Any council action on the rule change will likely not come until summer. A proposal to create zoning rules for farm animals kept within city limits was recently pulled from consideration by the committee when it created a public backlash. Debate on the rules is expected to resume soon. The potential for farm animal rules is a concern for Hein, as are the city's zoning rules on grass height, outbuildings, sidewalks and curbs. To annex, Hein would want some guarantees in writing that her property would be grandfathered into the city and exempt from the rules. She would also want the grandfather clause to be applied to the property, not the owner. "My main issue is that annexation with the city will set in place a domino of events that will reduce the land size and devalue my land, and yet be costly over time to me unless the city agrees to certain payment, reimbursement and law exemption options," she said.