An annexation request of up to 386 acres is under review by city officials.
The acreage, bounded basically by Seville Road to the north and Wall Road to the south, is southwest of the city.
Harry Stark, assistant service director, told City Council's Economic Development and Planning Committee the owner of the property is interested in annexation to the city, which will make the acreage accessible to city utilities including water.
According to Stark, the area, now located in the township, is zoned residential and industrial and the city is "very interested in the industrial area."
A draft agreement on the issue is under review by the committee.
Planning Director Jeff Kaiser told the committee the acreage will retain the zoning it now has as part of the township until the city's Planning Commission makes a recommendation as to the type of zoning to be applied to the area if it becomes part of the city.
Stark said it would be a "great addition to the city."
Known as Council Rule 23, the city has a multi-step process by which land is annexed.
Copies of an annexation request are sent to the economic development director, the director of public service, the director of public safety, the planning director and the superintendent of the public Schools. The Planning Commission also receives a copy, along with the chairpersons of council's Economic Development and Planning Committee and the Public Service Committee. Property owners in the proposed annexation area are also notified.
The Public Service Committee will study the issue to determine what services the city can provide to the area proposed for annexation. City Council then adopts a resolution to inform the Medina County Commissioners of the request for annexation.
If the commissioners agree to the request, the Economic Development and Planning Committee and the Planning Commission will review the comments from all parties involved, and the Planning Commission will send a recommendation to council as to the proposed zoning classification for the annexed area.
The Economic Development Committee will then review the Planning Commission's recommendation and then send a recommendation to council as to the zoning classification.
Under state law, the city, which annexes territory from a township, may have to share taxes over a 12-year period with the township from which the land was annexed.
