(A) As used in this section, "community entertainment district" means a bounded area that includes or will include a combination of entertainment, retail, educational, sporting, social, cultural, or arts establishments within close proximity to some or all of the following types of establishments within the district, or other types of establishments similar to these:

(1) Hotels;

(2) Restaurants;

(3) Retail sales establishments;

(4) Enclosed shopping centers;

(5) Museums;

(6) Performing arts theaters;

(7) Motion picture theaters;

(8) Night clubs;

(9) Convention facilities;

(10) Sports facilities;

(11) Entertainment facilities or complexes;

(12) Any combination of the establishments described in division (A)(1) to (11) of this section that provide similar services to the community.

(B) Any owner of property located in a municipal corporation seeking to have that property, or that property and other surrounding property, designated as a community entertainment district shall file an application seeking this designation with the mayor of the municipal corporation in which that property is located. Any owner of property located in the unincorporated area of a township seeking to have that property, or that property and other surrounding property, designated as a community entertainment district shall file an application seeking this designation with the board of township trustees of the township in whose unincorporated area that property is located. An application to designate an area as a community entertainment district shall contain all of the following:

(1) The applicant's name and address;

(2) A map or survey of the proposed community entertainment district in sufficient detail to identify the boundaries of the district and the property owned by the applicant;

(3) A general statement of the nature and types of establishments described in division (A) of this section that are or will be located within the proposed community improvement district and any other establishments located in the proposed community entertainment district that are not described in division (A) of this section;

(4) If some or all of the establishments within the proposed community entertainment district have not yet been developed, the proposed time frame for completing the development of these establishments;

(5) Evidence that the uses of land within the proposed community entertainment district are in accord with the municipal corporation's or township's master zoning plan or map;

(6) A certificate from a surveyor or engineer licensed under Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code indicating that the area encompassed by the proposed community entertainment district contains no less than twenty contiguous acres;

(7) A handling and processing fee to accompany the application, payable to the applicable municipal corporation or township, in an amount determined by that municipal corporation or township.

(C) An application described in division (B) of this section relating to an area located in a municipal corporation shall be addressed and submitted to the mayor of the municipal corporation in which the area described in the application is located. The mayor, within thirty days after receiving the application, shall submit the application with the mayor's recommendation to the legislative authority of the municipal corporation. An application described in division (B) of this section relating to an area located in the unincorporated area of a township shall be addressed and submitted to the board of township trustees of the township in whose unincorporated area the area described in the application is located. The application is a public record for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code upon its receipt by the mayor or board of township trustees.

Within thirty days after it receives the application and the mayor's recommendations relating to the application, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, by notice published once a week for two consecutive weeks in one newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, shall notify the public that the application is on file in the office of the clerk of the municipal corporation and is available for inspection by the public during regular business hours. Within thirty days after it receives the application, the board of township trustees, by notice published once a week for two consecutive weeks in one newspaper of general circulation in the township or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, shall notify the public that the application is on file in the office of the township fiscal officer and is available for inspection by the public during regular business hours. The notice shall also indicate the date and time of any public hearing by the legislative authority or board of township trustees on the application.

Within seventy-five days after the date the application is filed with the mayor of a municipal corporation, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation by ordinance or resolution shall approve or disapprove the application based on whether the proposed community entertainment district does or will substantially contribute to entertainment, retail, educational, sporting, social, cultural, or arts opportunities for the community. The community considered shall at a minimum include the municipal corporation in which the community is located. Any approval of an application shall be by an affirmative majority vote of the legislative authority.

Within seventy-five days after the date the application is filed with a board of township trustees, the board by resolution shall approve or disapprove the application based on whether the proposed community entertainment district does or will substantially contribute to entertainment, retail, educational, sporting, social, cultural, or arts opportunities for the community. The community considered shall at a minimum include the township in which the community is located. Any approval of an application shall be by an affirmative majority vote of the board of township trustees.

If the legislative authority or board of township trustees disapproves the application, the applicant may make changes in the application to secure its approval by the legislative authority or board of township trustees. Any area approved by the legislative authority or board of township trustees constitutes a community entertainment district, and a local option election may be conducted in the district, as a type of community facility, under section 4301.356 of the Revised Code.

(D) Subject to the limitations prescribed by this division and alternative to the procedure described in divisions (B) and (C) of this section, a municipal corporation or township may designate property as a community entertainment district pursuant to a joint economic development district contract entered into under section 715.70 , 715.71, or 715.72 of the Revised Code. A municipal corporation or township may not designate property as a community entertainment district under this division unless all of the following apply:

(1) The property is located in the joint economic development district.

(2) The owner of the property consents in writing to designation of the property as a community entertainment district.

(3) Designation of the property as a community entertainment district will substantially contribute to entertainment, retail, educational, sporting, social, cultural, or arts opportunities for the community. The proposed community to be considered for this purpose shall at a minimum include the township or municipal corporation in which the community is located and the entire area included in the joint economic development district.

For the purposes of this section, a community entertainment district designated under division (D) of this section is located in the municipal corporation or township that encompasses more of the district's territory than any other municipal corporation or township.

(E) All or part of an area designated as a community entertainment district under divisions (B) and (C) of this section may lose this designation as provided in this division. The legislative authority of a municipal corporation in which a community entertainment district is located, or the board of township trustees of the township in whose unincorporated area a community entertainment district is located, after giving notice of its proposed action by publication once a week for two consecutive weeks in one newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation or township or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, may determine by ordinance or resolution in the case of the legislative authority of a municipal corporation, or by resolution in the case of a board of township trustees of a township, that all or part of the area fails to meet the standards described in this section for designation of an area as a community entertainment district. If the legislative authority or board so determines, the area designated in the ordinance or resolution no longer constitutes a community entertainment district.

(F) All or part of an area designated as a community entertainment district under division (D) of this section may lose this designation as provided in this division. The parties to the joint economic development district contract designating the community entertainment district may give notice of a proposed action to revoke the community entertainment district designation by publication once a week for two consecutive weeks in one newspaper of general circulation in the area included in the joint economic development district as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code. After the completion of such notice, the legislative authority or board of township trustees of each party to the joint economic development district contract may determine, by ordinance or resolution, that all or part of the area designated as a community entertainment district fails to meet the standards described in this section. If the legislative authority or board of township trustees of each party to the joint economic development district contract approves such an ordinance or resolution, the area designated in the ordinances or resolutions no longer constitutes a community entertainment district.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 182, §1, eff. 9/13/2016.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 494, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 03-30-1999; 12-20-2005