WHEREAS, Zollinger and Ackerman Roads were aligned in such a manner that they were intended to connect between Upper Arlington, The Ohio State University and the Clintonville area and provide a direct access to the Ackermann/315 interchange; and

WHEREAS, The Ohio State University Board of Trustees recently adopted The Framework Plan, a comprehensive development scheme for all of the University's lands and within the plan the Zollinger-Ackerman Connector was identified and endorsed as beneficial to the long term development of the West Campus; and

WHEREAS, the Connector would be a valuable asset to the University and the City of Upper Arlington because it would provide direct access to the center of the community, particularly the Kingsdale area and would provide Upper Arlington residents with convenient alternate means of access into the city, relieving present and future congestion upon Lane Avenue and the Five Points/Fishinger Road corridors; and

WHEREAS, this proposed two-lane parkway would provide direct access to the retail and services businesses in Kingsdale and Tremont Center, aid in increasing demand for the 104,000 square feet of office space proposed at Kingsdale and assist OSU in developing as much as 3 million square feet of offices and research facilities on West Campus; and

WHEREAS, biennial grant applications are currently being accepted by MORPC from local governments to apply for federal funding for up to 80% of the construction costs of projects of regional significance; and

WHEREAS, this Connector is considered one of our community's top new infrastructure priorities, and has garnered support from The Ohio State University and the City of Columbus; and

WHEREAS, the City of Upper Arlington is the most fitting applicant to request the grant funding to ensure its appropriate development;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of Directors of the Upper Arlington Area Chamber of Commerce:

• The Board has reviewed the issues concerning this the proposed Zollinger/Ackerman Connector and view it as a potentially valuable asset to the community.
• The Board encourages the Upper Arlington City Council to support the City Manager making the grant application for this project.
• The Board will advocate for this project using all means available to it with the City Council and the public at large.