Etna clears way for new motor home/trailer business

• The Etna Township Board of Trustees recently cleared the way for a motor home business
• They made the move by rezoning two properties on Lynns Road
• The trustees originally wanted the owner to agree to a tax district, but they reached a compromise

ETNA – A Hebron-based business won its rezoning request and will move a large portion of its recreational vehicle sales business to Etna Township.

The Etna Township Trustees voted 3-0 at their July 18 meeting to approve Ryan Haire’s rezoning application for two properties at 10034 and 10062 Lynns Road. Haire sought to rezone the properties, which stand south of Interstate 70 and west of Ohio 310, from agricultural uses to general business uses.

He had earlier received a rezoning approval for a larger chunk of nearby land. He wanted to add the two smaller properties to provide better visibility to the business and to make the approach safer for customers.

Following the trustees’ July 18 decision, Haire said he will begin work in 30 to 60 days on demolishing the two homes that stand on the adjoining properties. He said his goal is to move the motor home and trailer sales portion of RCD Sales, along with 50 to 60 employees, from Hebron to Etna. A portion of the business likely will remain in Hebron to serve the Newark/Hebron market, while the western Licking County location will be closer to Columbus metro area and customers there, he said.

Haire encountered initial difficulty in securing support for his rezoning from the Etna board.

The trustees insisted Haire and his partners agree to the creation of a tax district known as a Joint Economic Development District, or JEDD. The district would have imposed an income tax on the RCD Sales’ employees.

The trustees argued road taxes are unequally paid by township residents and farmers and it was their desire that new businesses and industries be subjected to the JEDD tax proposal to equalize the road-tax burden.

Haire initially resisted the idea of placing a 1.5-percent income tax on his employees. The issue resulted in an unusual delay in the rezoning hearing that had to be carried over several meetings.

The trustees ultimately decided to forgo seeking the JEDD after Haire agreed to not seek any tax abatements for his new business location. It is not uncommon for businesses to seek tax breaks to help ease the financial cost of starting a new operation or relocation.

Carlisle said that he “would take (Haire) at your word” not to seek tax breaks.

“We are an honest business and we will do what we say,” Haire assured the trustees.

That assurance prompted Carlisle’s to respond, “We hope you thrive and do very well (in Etna).”

The trustees voted 3-0 to approve the rezoning, clearing Haire’s way to move a portion of his longtime family business to Etna.

Haire said after the July 18 meeting that his decision “not to apply for tax abatement” helped avoid the JEDD tax issue. He added that RCD Sales has a reputation of “partnering with the community” and supporting local school athletics and fairs and he expects that to apply to Etna Township.