The Urbana City Council met in regular session on Tuesday to discuss changes to various codified ordinances.
The council discussed several ordinances in a public hearing setting, as required for passage. They include:
- Ordinance 4423-25: An ordinance to add Section 111.05, “Council Clerk Compensation” to the Codified Ordinances.
- Ordinance 4618-25: An ordinance to approve the final development plan and related plan exhibits for the planned unit development to be known as Dugan Place that was originally approved by Urbana City Council on May 17, 2022, with the passage of Ordinance 4572-22 and later extended for one additional year on May 21, 2024, with the passage of Ordinance 4572-24. Dugan Place is in its final development plan and shows 513 units of housing.
- Ordinance 4619-25: An ordinance accepting the annexation of parcels (territory) consisting of approximately 219.986 acres, more or less, in Urbana Township as petitioned by Andrew Wecker, attorney-at-law, appointed as agent by the petitioners: Urbana Health Facilities, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company; governing board of the Madison-Champaign Educational Service Center; Board of County Commissioners of Champaign County, Ohio; and Organ Farms, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company.
- Ordinance 4620-25: An ordinance to amend Chapter 1102 of the Codified Ordinances. (Described as the definitions chapter. This ordinance adds the definition for computing infrastructure providers, includes automobile and dog wash, and further expands transport terminals).
- Ordinance 4621-25: An ordinance to amend Chapter 1126 of the Codified Ordinances. (Described as the manufacturing district chapter. This ordinance updates the general purpose and further describes permissive uses while typically there are more stringent height restrictions if a parcel is next to a residential area, this ordinance gives flexibility to larger parcels. This ordinance also removes the land use intensity requirement).
- Ordinance 4622-25: An ordinance to amend Chapter 1124 of the Codified Ordinances. (This ordinance covers the chapter for the B2 general business district. This ordinance clarifies the lot occupation calculation and land use intensity).
- Ordinance 4623-25: An ordinance to amend Chapter 1129 of the Codified Ordinances. (This ordinance covers the chapter for supplemental regulations. This chapter is described as the catchall for things that don’t clearly fit anywhere else. In regards to fencing, the proposal changes the language to allow for up to an 8-foot fence in front of a structure in an M1 manufacturing zone).
- Ordinance 4624-25: An ordinance to amend Chapter 1133 of the Codified Ordinances. (This ordinance covers the chapter for off-street parking and loading. It includes the required parking formula for the new use involving data centers).
- Ordinance 4625-25: An ordinance to update the City of Urbana’s Official Zoning Map to establish City designated zoning classifications for nine parcels that were petitioned for annexation to the City of Urbana on December 3, 2024, and are anticipated to be annexed into the City of Urbana corporation limits on or after May 23, 2025.
Also in the meeting, Urbana Mayor Bill Bean read this year’s Arbor Day proclamation naming Thursday, April 24th as the day Urbana will celebrate with a tree planting ceremony at 9:30 am at Weidman Park.
Community Development Manager, Doug Crabill, knows there is an importance to planting trees in Urbana.
The council heard and passed two resolutions during the meeting, before entering into the executive council to discuss personnel issues.
The first was Resolution 2449-25: A resolution authorizing the Director of Administration of the City of Urbana, County of Champaign, to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT’s) 2024-2025 Salt Contract Participation (018-26) awarded in 2025. Director of Administration Kerry Brugger explained the current salt in storage is just under 400 Tons and the normal supply is between 1,000 and 1,100 Tons. The city will need to order 600 Tons of salt to fill its storage and the prices vary with the economy. The council passed the resolution unanimously.
In Resolution 2711-25, the council discussed a resolution in support of State Issue 2, which will appear on the ballot for the May 6, 2025, primary election, and will allow for renewal of the State Capital Improvement Program if passed and administered by the Ohio Public Works Commission. Crabill said the project is renewed every 10 years and provides an average of $250 million to help the community pay for repairs.
Police Chief Matt Lingrell reminded the council of drug drop off on April 26th and of the City’s Easter Egg Hunt at Urbana High School beginning at 1 pm Saturday.
The council will meet in an additional regular session next Tuesday, April 22, 2025, to discuss upcoming resolutions and ordinance changes.
