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1. DESCRIPTION OF THE ASCOT AMENDED DEVELOPMENT AREA
   The Ascot Amended Development consists of 225.87 acres in the northern section of the City. The Development Area is located on the west side of State Road between Bath Road and Chart Road in the northern part of the City. Land owned by the City within this Amended Development Area includes the site of the former Ascot Park horse race track, which the City purchased in 1979. The properties within the project area were annexed to the City of Akron in 1983.
2. STATEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES
   The general goal of the City of Akron, in undertaking this project, is to promote commercial and industrial manufacturing operations within the Ascot Amended Development Area by continuing to correct physical conditions and problems which have hampered development. To carry out this goal, the following specific objectives are proposed:
   1. Land Use Objective
      1. Enhance the viability of the project area by encouraging land uses which are of an industrial type and are compatible with major industrial developments in the vicinity.
      2. Prohibit uses which are incompatible and not of an industrial nature and which would detract from the viable development of the area.
      3. Provide for suitable buffer areas between new industrial uses and neighboring residential uses.
   2. Environmental Objectives
      1. Develop an attractive and visually improved environment consistent with the standards of many industrial parks within this region.
      2. Improve the functional and physical condition of the project area.
      3. Provide for adequate drainage of the area with the installation of storm sewers.
   3. Public Improvement Objectives
      1. Provide the public improvements necessary to overcome or to correct the development problems of the project area.
      2. Support development of a modern industrial park capable of increasing jobs and revenue for the area.
      3. Expand public access, utilities, and storm water management systems to prepare the remaining land for development.
   4. Circulation Objectives
      1. Provide for safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services with vehicular access to, from, and within the Ascot Amended Development Area.
      2. Develop a road system to serve the area which provides the most efficient access to remaining developable parcels within the project area.
      3. Limit access to the site from State Road which is capable of handling the necessary traffic.
   5. Economic Development Objectives
      1. Increase the number of employment opportunities within the City of Akron.
      2. Utilize added property tax revenues generated by new construction in the Ascot Area for the construction of needed public improvements.
      3. Encourage private investment and the development of a modern industrial park within the Ascot Amended Development Area and the City of Akron.
3. PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT ACTIONS
   1. Land Acquisition
      The land to be acquired consists of several mostly contiguous privately owned parcels, including: 70 00483 (10.33 acres); 70 00484 (3.15 acres); 70 00486 (18.95 acres); 70 00487 (24.30 acres); 70 00489 (9.27 acres); and possibly 70 00499 (3.70 acres).
   2. Redeveloper Obligations for Land Purchased or Leased from the City of Akron
      1. Architectural and site Plans for construction of all improvements shall be submitted for review by the Urban Design & Historic Preservation Commission and approved by Akron City Planning Commission prior to commencement of construction. In undertaking the review, the following will be taken into consideration.
         1. The conformity of the proposed development to the general objectives of this Redevelopment Plan and the development standards set forth herein.
         2. The conformity of the proposed development to the specific controls and regulations of this Redevelopment Plan.
         3. The extent to which the proposed development meets any other regulations, controls or other objectives established for this project by the City of Akron.
         4. Review and approval will be specifically concerned with, but not limited to, site planning, architectural layout, materials of construction, landscaping, access and advertising, and identifications signs.
         5. It is expressly understood that approval of any plans by the Akron City Planning Commission applies to any and all features shown thereon, and that any subsequent additions, deletions or other modifications thereof are required to be submitted by the redeveloper before construction of such modifications can begin.
      2. Land owned or acquired by the City of Akron will be subject to a Land Disposition Agreement or a Ground Lease Agreement between the City and the developer.
      3. The developer shall begin and complete the development of land for uses permitted by the plan and construction of improvements on land conveyed by a disposition or lease agreement between the City of Akron and the developer. All such construction shall begin within 12 months from the date of conveyance.
4. GENERAL LAND USE PLAN
   The Land Use Plan has been formulated to support and complement the development of the Ascot Area into a major industrial park. In order to achieve the objectives of the Redevelopment Plan, the use of land in the redevelopment area will be made subject to the regulations and controls specified herein, notwithstanding the provisions of any zoning ordinance or regulation now or hereinafter in effect provided; however, the regulations and controls of this Redevelopment Plan shall supersede existing codes and ordinances wherever such regulations are more restrictive.
   1. Land Use Provisions and Building Requirements
      1. Existing Zoning
         The existing zoning within the Ascot Redevelopment Area is UPD-33.
         1. Amendment to UPD 33.
            1. Add "....and other similar commercial uses." to Section 153.153A(1).
            2. Delete Section 153.153A(2).
            3. Delete "Section 153.108(A)" from Section 153.153A(3).
      2. Land Uses to be Permitted
         The following uses shall be permitted in the project area:
         1. Industrial
            Permitted land uses within areas designated as Industrial shall include ordinary industrial uses, manufacturing and assembly, offices as an accessory use to existing or new industry, laboratories, wholesale, and warehousing and other uses, as outlined in Section 153.109(A) (Industrial) of the Akron Zoning Code, with the exception of a dog pound.
         2. Accessory uses - accessory uses in the Ascot Amended Development Area shall be permitted if the accessory use is customarily incident to the uses permitted in the Ascot Amended Development Area, except that a Class, U1, U3, or U6 or a prohibited use shall not be permitted as an accessory use in the Ascot Development District.
   2. Development Standards
      Any new development which occurs in the Ascot Amended Development Area must abide by the standards prepared for this project area.
      1. The Department of Planning and Urban Development shall review and approve all plans for new construction and additions for compliance with the "Akron Development Guide," the subchapter on Development and Area District Requirements at 153.285 et seq., and the subchapter on On-Premises Exterior signs at 153.305 et. seq. in the Akron Zoning Code.
      2. No vehicular access shall be permitted to or from Bath Road to serve retail, commercial, or industrial development.
      3. To assure vehicular access to and from State Route 8 for the permitted retail, commercial, and industrial uses, prior to the commencement of any such development, the following conditions shall apply:
         1. The city, its successors and assigns, shall permit vehicular ingress and egress and provide an 80 foot wide corridor for such ingress and egress, across a parcel of land presently owned by the city and located within the boundaries of the property described in Ord. 229-1983, Section 1 establishing UPD-33. The 80 foot wide corridor shall extend from the eastern boundary line of the parcel of land presently owned by the city to the northern 200 feet of the western boundary of the city-owned parcel.
         2. Property owner, successors and assigns, shall permit vehicular ingress and egress and provide an 80 foot wide corridor for such ingress and egress, across the northern 400 feet of 56.73 acres presently owned by property owner, and located within the boundaries of the property described in Ord. 229-1983, Section 1 establishing UPD-33. The 80 foot wide corridor shall link with the corridor described in Section (3) (a) above and shall extend from the eastern boundary line of the parcels of land presently owned by the property owner to the western boundary of the privately owned parcels.
         3. Upon submission of, but before a development plan for any one the above parcels has been approved by the Department of Planning and Urban Development, the location of a driveway (if not subdivision of a parcel is involved) or a dedicated street (if a subdivision of a parcel is involved) which provides and assures vehicular egress and ingress to State Route 8 must be mutually agreed to by the authorized agent for both existing property owners, or their successors or assigns. Such agreement shall be made in good faith, and refusal to agree shall not be made unreasonably.
      4. All commercial and industrial development shall conform to the development standards as established in the subchapter on Development and Area District Requirements at 153.285 et seq. of the Akron Zoning Code except when other standards are noted herein.
      5. All manufacturing, processing, crating, and uncrating service and repair operations shall be conducted within completely enclosed buildings.
      6. All outdoor storage areas shall be screened from view by solid walls or solid fences or landscaping at least six feet in height. Such fencing and screening material shall be reviewed and approved by the Department of Planning and Urban Development.
      7. Sewers must be provided for the UPD-33 area prior to any construction, and these sewers must be subject to the approval of the City Sewer Engineer and the Ohio EPA.
      8. The height of any structure in a Class UPD-33 District shall not exceed 50 feet.
      9. The minimum building line in a Class UPD-33 District shall conform to 153.297(D), but shall be a minimum of 25 feet and not be more than 75 feet.
      10. All sides of the building fronting on public streets shall be faced with brick, stone, split rock, or other similar approved facing material. All remaining sides shall be faced with material to a minimum height of eight feet above ground. Exterior side walls may be of another material if a building expansion is planned and provided for. In that event, the permanent walls after the expansion shall conform to this Section. Construction materials for exterior surfaces are subject to the approval of the Planning staff.
      11. All utility lines (such as gas, electric, or telephone) shall be installed underground and suitably marked for safety.
      12. Side and rear yards - on all sites the side and rear yards must conform with Sections 153.287(B) 1 and 2 but shall be a minimum of 10 feet. These yards are to be landscaped according to standards found in the "Akron Development Guide." Plans for this landscaping shall require the approval of the Planning staff.
      13. Parking location - off-street parking of motor vehicles shall extend no closer to the street line that 15 feet. The majority of parking spaces required for the use are to be located at the side or rear of the structure, behind the building line. The area between the parking area and the street line shall be landscaped according to standards found in the "Akron Development Guide." Plans for this landscaping shall require the approval of the Planning staff.
      14. A buffer zone with a minimum width of 100 feet shall be established and maintained between any residentially zoned property on the north line of the Bath Road right-of-way and any nonresidential structure constructed within a UPD-33. The 100 foot strip of land shall be landscaped with trees, shrubbery, and lawn, and such landscaping shall require the prior approval of the Planning staff. The 100 foot strip shall not be used for any entrance, exit, driveway, parking area, nor outdoor storage.
      15. All signs in a Class UPD-33 District shall comply with the subchapter on On-Premises Exterior Signs at 153.305 et. seq., with the additional provision that only flush mounted signs or ground signs less that six feet in height will be permitted. The design, size of lettering, and lighting of all signs shall be submitted for review and approval by the Department of Planning and Urban Development.
      16. No outdoor advertising display of any nature shall be placed, erected, or located in the UPD-33 District.
      17. Every developed parcel shall devote at least 30% of its lot to usable open spaces.
5. OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROVISIONS
   1. Duration of the Redevelopment Plan Restrictions
      The Redevelopment Plan and/or any modification thereof shall be in force and effect for a period of 50 years from the date of approval of this Redevelopment Plan by the City of Akron. The termination of this Redevelopment Plan shall in no way permit the project land or any part thereof to be restricted on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, or national origin in the sale, use, or occupancy thereof; nor shall it permit the practice of discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, or national origin.
   2. Provisions for Amending Approved Plan
      This Redevelopment Plan may be amended from time to time upon approval by the City Planning Commission and City Council.
6. LEGISLATION TO BE UTILIZED TO FULFILL PLAN OBJECTIVES
   1. Ohio Revised Code: Urban Redevelopment Tax Increment Equivalent (Section 5709.41 to 5709.43)
      Tax increment financing, as permitted by the provisions of the above statutes, will assist the City in paying for the public improvements which will be undertaken within the Ascot Amended Development Area and other public improvements necessary to accomplish the goals of the City's General Plan. Sections 5709.41 to 5709.43 permit the City to declare that improvements made on real property owned by the City and leased to a developer to be a "public purpose" and exempt from real property taxation for up to 30 years. The City can thereafter require the owner of any structure constructed on the parcel to make annual service payments in-lieu-of taxes to the City.