Information taken from: This Week Newspaper: January 14, 2001

Source: ThisWeekNews.com Archive Section

Copywright 2001 by ThisWeek Newspapers. All rights reserved

This is a summary of comprehensive watershed plans developed from 1969 to 1994, and is included in the draft of the latest Hellbranch Run watershed study, undertaken by MORPC as part of a far broader look at greenways preservation of rivers, creeks and streams in Franklin County. The summary, broken down by purpose, year, planning area and conclusion, includes:

Franklin County Comprehensive Plan, 1969, Franklin County: "Extreme flatness north of Interstate 70 creates difficult drainage problems that would be expensive to solve for suburban fringe development."

Water-Related Facilities Study, 1969, Hellbranch Run and Big Darby Creek: "No sewer service should be extended to Hellbranch and Darby Creek drainage areas until storm drainage problems are resolved. Development should be excluded, farm uses continued and open space created for recreation."

Big Darby Creek Corridor Study, 1974, Big Darby Creek watershed: "The flat upland areas are particularly poor for development because of very flat topography combined with high water table and very slow permeability."

Area study number 4, 1974, upper reaches of Hellbranch: "No development should occur without central storm and sanitary sewers."

Sewage plan for southwestern Franklin County, 1974, southwestern Franklin County: "Drainage problems will significantly affect development in the Hellbranch drainage basin north of Hall Road that includes Brown Township and a large part of Prairie Township."

Brown Township Drainage and Land Use Policy Study, 1982, Brown Township: "If development were pursued for this area, the generally poor conditions would create severe ponding and maintenance problems."

West Columbus Interim Development Concept, 1991, West Columbus and Franklin County: "The Hellbranch Run drainage system has severe limitations and should be maintained for agriculture and should not be developed except for very low-density land uses and open space."

Brown Township Comprehensive Plan, 1992, Brown Township: "The shallow gradient of the upper reaches of Hellbranch Run drainage basin severely limits development."

Columbus Comprehensive Plan, 1993, city of Columbus: "Recommended a Metro Park along Big Darby Creek in Brown Township."

Hellbranch Run Drainage Improvement Study, 1994, Hellbranch Run watershed: "The Hellbranch stream channel cannot carry increased stream flows without additional capacity, and improvements will be expensive. This study does not endorse development in the Hellbranch watershed."

Westland Area Plan, 1994, Southwestern Franklin County: "Flooding and hydric soils may cause development restrictions."