April 2, 200718 yr " When you are coming up 75, there is a great old farmhouse on Greentree that puts electric candles in their windows and a star on their silo at Christmas, it must be one of your neighbors. That is a sight that will be sad to lose "" You can kiss that site goodby. The draft Warren County Land-Use Plan, set to be approved at an April 10th meeting, has that land labeled for "office use". When the time comes for the house to sell, expect a developer (either directly or thru the Warren County Port Authority) to buy it and bulldoz the house. I'll try talking to the owner tonight (yes, a neighbor of mine) and see if he knows anything about this and if he cares. Since he bought an old house, he "may" be an old-house person and he "may" take offense at the planned destruction of a house he has worked hard to save and restore. Who knows. You are aware that the big bad government can not just simply snap their fingers...rezone your property...then bulldoze the bldgs on that property. It is much more complicated than that and typically involves large amounts of community input before it is all said and done. Warren County may very well have the property highlighted in their future land use as a office use, but that is simply a vision that has to be made reality by the citizens (via elected officials and community input). I know that this does not always work properly and truly represent what the citizens want, but that is how it works. I just hate hearing people whine about zoning issues, when it is an MASSIVE MESS for the government to go about changing the zoning. The problems in lie with the massive amount of hoops that must be jumped through to get it done....Ever heard of NIMBYs?
April 2, 200718 yr From the 3/30/07 Enquirer: Mason: Economic 'powerhouse' City officials devote budget to economic growth BY KATIE WEDELL | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR MASON - City officials cited rapid growth as a major advantage for bringing in tax revenue and attracting development at the State of the City presentation Thursday at Great Wolf Lodge. With the city's population doubling in the past decade and the number of residents now topping 30,000, officials touted economic development as the key to the city's success. According to the presentation, the city experienced a 15 percent revenue increase in 2006. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070330/NEWS01/703300401/ From the 3/31/07 Enquirer: Warren Co. jail deal is struck New lockup won't be built THE ENQUIRER LEBANON - Warren County plans to address its jail space shortage with several renovations that would allow double-bunking, even triple-bunking some inmates. The plan, announced Friday, was reached informally this week among officials who have been arguing for more than a year over how to expand a 200-bed jail for Ohio's second-fastest-growing county. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070331/NEWS01/703310354/
April 3, 200718 yr "You are aware that the big bad government can not just simply snap their fingers...rezone your property...then bulldoze the bldgs on that property" Well, in a matter, they can. Not instantaneously, but that is the plan. I had a not-so-friendly discussion with the Executive Planner for the Warren County Regional Planning Board (or some such title with some such planning board). He said the the county commissioners ran on pro-development platforms, got elected, and are dead set to implement it. He was saying that they had created what they called an I-75 Business Corridor overlay for lands on either side of I-75 (I'm not sure what this means right now). The county is in the final stages of revising its Land-Usage map. This is a non-legal map that outlines how the county sees land being used over the next 20 or so years. On this map they can designate current agriculture or residential land as business (which they have done for much of Turtlecreek township land along I-75. This plan is to approved on April 10th. Next, they have created a Warren County Port Authority. The purpose of the PA (Port Authority) is to bring economic development to the county. It is working closely with Butler Co. PA along I-75. The PA has the ability to raise funds by issuing bonds. It can then use this money to attract businesses. True, the county can't just rezone land out from under you. But what it can do is have the PA, with all the money raised via bonds, buy your land when it becomes available. This can be directly from the current homeowner or when the land is put on the market. After purchasing the land, the PA can then pettition the county to rezone it. The county can simply approve it (it may not be as simple as that, but it can be made to happen if they want it to). If the re-zoning is challenged in court, the county then pulls out the (non-legally binding) Land-Use plan and to justify the rezoning and will win in court. Then the PA sells the land to developers after the rezoning and infrastructure has been beefed up. I spoke with a Judge who said the Land Use map is vital to the county's defense in court, and that with it, the county stands an excellent chance of winning. So, no, the county can't simply snap their fingers and turn houses into businesses. However, in the case of a lone farm or loan house on a little bit of land, they can do the closes thing to snapping their fingers. There is just a time delay equal to the tenure of the current owner. The gorgeous 1875 house along I-75 sits on approx 20 acres. I actually met the wife last night for the first time. She seems to really love her house, but thinks development is inevitable, so why do anything about it. I'm not sure if she realizes her house is at risk, or if she cares. I left the draft Land-Use plan with her and told her to have her husband call me to discuss (she kept saying he needed to look at it but was out mowing grass). I somehow don't feel they will be sympathetic to saving the old house. (to address some possible followup to this - yes, it's their property and they can bulldoze the house if they want. I was just trying to alert them to the plan in case they had other plans for the house. Also, I'm aware a lot of development will take place around Union Road. I am just trying to have some local property owners have input into the changes.)
April 3, 200718 yr FYI - concerning that house on I-75 where Greentree road crosses the interstate... since it was brought up in a prev post... The property is actually very quiet and peacefull. I stood in the driveway talking to the wife and later we walked to the barn (circa 1840s) to look for her husband. The whole time the interstate noise was barely noticable. I asked her about road noise from inside the house (1885). She said the walls were 15" thick. It was so quiet inside that you had trouble hearing someone in another room. There is a one-story addition to the house on the back, which looks modern, so the walls are normal there. Sadly, I did not get to go inside the house.
April 3, 200718 yr Well, in a matter, they can. Not instantaneously, but that is the plan. I had a not-so-friendly discussion with the Executive Planner for the Warren County Regional Planning Board (or some such title with some such planning board). He said the the county commissioners ran on pro-development platforms, got elected, and are dead set to implement it. He was saying that they had created what they called an I-75 Business Corridor overlay for lands on either side of I-75 (I'm not sure what this means right now). Well, there you go...the elected officials ran on 'pro-development' platforms and they were elected in as a result. Sorry but the public has spoken and these are the people that they want to represent them. So this is what you get. I know its not ideal, but its how the system works. If you have a better solution to the political process I'm sure some people in Washington DC would love to hear it!
April 3, 200718 yr We have a situation in Warren county, like many other counties, where a disproportion of the population resides in one area. In this case, the Mason area. So someone from that area has a much easier time getting elected. When I lived in the Finger Lakes region of NY, we had a problem with the NYC being able to elect whoever they wanted, regardless of what the residents of the remaining 80% of the state (landwise) said. But at the county level in NY, you typically had 25 county commissioners. In Warren County, you only have 3, so a single commissioner can have a strong sway over agenda. With so many of the voters concentrated in a couple of geographic spots, the will of those people can be pushed onto the will of the less populated areas. Conflicts can arise between the local people and county government. The State of Ohio has introduced something called 'limited home rule' to help the locals in their debate with county government. Residents of TurtleCreek township are now investigating this option. We'll see what is discovered. As to notifying Washington of my opionion of a better way to run government, I'm sure lots of people smarter than me, and perhaps more people not quite as smart as me, have already done this.
April 3, 200718 yr Why did you move to Warren County, CincyDad? Because it was rural? I'm wondering because I grew up in Warren County and don't know any reasons why I'd ever voluntarily live there. Perhaps you should wait a few years, sell your house off to some commercial developer for a hefty sum, and then move to western Butler County where the anti-development attitude reigns. Seriously. There are some great rural areas that will never develop in our lifetimes.
April 3, 200718 yr When I returned to Ohio a few years ago, I wasn't sure where the best job prospects for my wife and I would be. We wanted a semi-rural old farmhouse with 2+ acres in a good school district with good access to Cincinnati/Dayton (my job), Hamilton (wife's job), and Middletown (my aging parents). We first lived in a duplex in Lebanon itself, liked the charm of the city, and wanted to keep our children in the school district. We searched for 2 years to find the right set-up for us. We are old house people. We are also big lot people. We are not subdivision people. Western Butler county suffers from easy access to working in Cincy/Dayton. It also suffers from less than stellar school systems. Ross is too close to the Fernald site for my taste. Other than that, we've talked about the area. Both my wife & I attended Miami-Oxford for undergrad, and we like the area. Warren county is not a place for young adults or a place to start a career. But it is a good place to raise a family. Unfortunately, the world is discovering our little secret, right after we bought it.
April 3, 200718 yr To add to that, my wife & I are also more confortable living in cities in the 25k-30k population size. These size cities have all the basic amenities, but they are not so large that they have much else. As a result, the major emphasis of the community becomes the local school district. A lot of effort is put into the schools (it's all the city has) and as a result, I've noticed that school systems in cities in this size range tend to be very good for their size. I saw this in NY, and I see it here in Lebanon. It's great when these small, school-oriented cities are satellite cities of 2 big metro areas.
April 3, 200718 yr You'll live a skip and a hop from Armco, which is still at work, but you won't live a township over from a now cleaned Fernald? :-) Maybe Tallawanda isn't the greatest district, but I don't particularily think much of Lebanon after a few antidotes I know of, although I'm sure their state report card would say otherwise.
April 3, 200718 yr Perhaps you should wait a few years, sell your house off to some commercial developer for a hefty sum, and then move to western Butler County where the anti-development attitude reigns. Seriously. There are some great rural areas that will never develop in our lifetimes. Don't be soo quick to think that. Butler County has been eyeing a road connection to Oxford (north of Hamilton) for awhile now. If this happens then goodbye farms....the floodgates will be opened and sprawl-mania will hit NW Butler County as well (see 129 for case study). Its becoming hard for me to stomach this sprawl discussion any longer...I'll try to tough it out and continue this conversation, but my vomit reflex is triggered each time I hear about why rural Butler/Warren Counties are great places to live/raise a family.
April 3, 200718 yr Don't be soo quick to think that. Butler County has been eyeing a road connection to Oxford (north of Hamilton) for awhile now. If this happens then goodbye farms....the floodgates will be opened and sprawl-mania will hit NW Butler County as well (see 129 for case study). That will probably be the case, but you can't tell me it will all develop like Liberty and West Chester Twps. Reily, Morgan, and parts of Milford, Hanover, and Oxford Townships are going to stay largely rural for decades to come. There are also stricter zoning regulations in some of the western townships, and as I said, a very strong anti-development sentiment, which always helps. I can think of several developments, constituting more than 500 homes, that have been shot down in recent years, some by county planning/commissioners, and another by public referendum.
April 3, 200718 yr "I don't particularily think much of Lebanon after a few antidotes I know of" Yes, Lebanon schools have their share of problems, but they are better than most schools around them. (I don't take the state report card all that seriously). But our approach is to have our children be the big fish academically in a good but small pond, versus getting lost in the crowd. So far its working. But we digress. Back to Warren County growth... One possible way to slow it down, if that is the desired goal, may be the granting of Limited Home Rule (LHR) to the local townships, so they can counter-balance the county to some degree. I'm not sure if this would be enought (I don't know enough about LHR to say), but it appears townships could impose impact fees and different zoning than what the county wants. It may help, it may not. (gotta go, check back tomorrow....sorry about your stomach, Uncle)
April 3, 200718 yr Don't be soo quick to think that. Butler County has been eyeing a road connection to Oxford (north of Hamilton) for awhile now. If this happens then goodbye farms....the floodgates will be opened and sprawl-mania will hit NW Butler County as well (see 129 for case study). That will probably be the case, but you can't tell me it will all develop like Liberty and West Chester Twps. Reily, Morgan, and parts of Milford, Hanover, and Oxford Townships are going to stay largely rural for decades to come. There are also stricter zoning regulations in some of the western townships, and as I said, a very strong anti-development sentiment, which always helps. I can think of several developments, constituting more than 500 homes, that have been shot down in recent years, some by county planning/commissioners, and another by public referendum. You're right...it won't develop like Liberty and WC, but unfortunately it will develop. Hopefully the anti-growth hold strong, and keep it rural!
April 3, 200718 yr Don't be soo quick to think that. Butler County has been eyeing a road connection to Oxford (north of Hamilton) for awhile now. If this happens then goodbye farms....the floodgates will be opened and sprawl-mania will hit NW Butler County as well (see 129 for case study). That will probably be the case, but you can't tell me it will all develop like Liberty and West Chester Twps. Reily, Morgan, and parts of Milford, Hanover, and Oxford Townships are going to stay largely rural for decades to come. There are also stricter zoning regulations in some of the western townships, and as I said, a very strong anti-development sentiment, which always helps. I can think of several developments, constituting more than 500 homes, that have been shot down in recent years, some by county planning/commissioners, and another by public referendum. Ink, Not on warren co topic but the Route 63 extension could be a serious sprawl inducer for central and western Butler County in the future: Check this link: http://bceo.org/sr63.html
April 3, 200718 yr One possible way to slow it down, if that is the desired goal, may be the granting of Limited Home Rule (LHR) to the local townships, so they can counter-balance the county to some degree. I'm not sure if this would be enought (I don't know enough about LHR to say), but it appears townships could impose impact fees and different zoning than what the county wants. It may help, it may not. I don't think this would do the trick. Townships will ALWAYS be a sess pool for crap development for a couple of reasons. First off, townships desperately try to maintain their existence and prevent from being annexed into the larger municipality that is near them (which is what townships were set up to eventually do...become part of the larger municipality). So in order to do this they need clout and financial backing in the form of tax base. You cannot fight off the big bad city when you don't have the necessary clout. Secondly, townships don't have the types of control standards on development that municipalities do...so you get crap development over time from developers that are looking to minimize costs. Thirdly, townships attract lower-level politicians that are typically development oriented (home builders, developers, etc). So as a result they do things that will ultimately help themselves and their industry in the long run. So if that mean lowering standards, and implementing 'business friendly' standards then so be it. It is a VERY difficult situation, but I don't think the answer in lies with granting more power to townships. It can either be solved by taking power away visa vie Urban Growth Boundaries or by eliminating them altogether, but allowing annexation to return to its intended purposes.
April 3, 200718 yr Ink, Not on warren co topic but the Route 63 extension could be a serious sprawl inducer for central and western Butler County in the future: Check this link: http://bceo.org/sr63.html I know all about the 63 connector, but thanks for the link anyway; it would have an amazing effect. (not using amazing as good) You'll also note the page hasn't been update since 2003 and the project is off the table currently. I'm doubtful that it will ever happen, as hard as it was for Hamilton to get 129. I guess we will see what happens!
April 4, 200718 yr Warren jail expansion OK'd BY SHEILA MCLAUGHLIN | [email protected] April 3, 2007 LEBANON – Warren County officials sealed a plan Tuesday to expand the jail off Justice Drive without the help of a long-time commissioner who said it should have been done his way. “I’d be a hypocrite if I voted to do all this because I think we could accomplish it by just double bunking already,” Commissioner Mike Kilburn said, refusing to vote on the expansion that would nearly double the number of beds. “We could double bunk without spending any of this money and it would be over with.” http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070403/NEWS01/304030044
April 4, 200718 yr Both from the 4/3/07 Enquirer: Fire points out lack of station Distance slowed Mason firefighters' response to blaze BY JANICE MORSE AND JENNIFER BAKER | [email protected] OR [email protected] MASON - Firefighters worked hard and fast to salvage a $303,000 home that sustained heavy damage in a blaze, Fire Chief Rich Fletcher said Monday, but he acknowledged that response could have been quicker if a fire station were located nearer to the home. "We're aware that we need a station a little closer out there," Fletcher said, referring to the house that partially burned Sunday at 3995 Top Flite Lane. The fire happened about two months after a consultant told Deerfield Township and Mason leaders that the two Warren County communities lack enough fire stations to respond to emergencies within a recommended six minutes, which could pose a problem as the area grows. Leaders are discussing relocating some fire stations and building at least one new one. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070403/NEWS01/704030419/ Mason: Response time 8 mins, not 22 BY JANICE MORSE | [email protected] MASON – After listening to radio transmission recordings, officials learned that fire trucks arrived within eight minutes of being dispatched to a blaze that heavily damaged a home here Sunday. The latest information released today about the fire on Top Flite Lane helps address a dispute over response time to the fire that caused more than $100,000 damage and rekindled controversy over fire service here. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070403/NEWS01/304030022/
April 4, 200718 yr "Townships will ALWAYS be a sess pool for crap development for a couple of reasons........." 1) city annexation - yes, this is my fear. If the townships make it difficult for developers, then the developers can request annexation to the neighboring city. If the county encourages this, it is hard for a township to stop, at least that is my fear. 2) townships and controls on developers - I think that Limited Home Rule gives townships the ability to zone property. At least they can direct development certain ways. I need to verify this. LHR does give townships some say in the sewers in the area, and that can affect development. 3) townships attract pro-development leaders - probably true. And they've got the money to fight off other candidates. We'll see how things go in Turtlecreek township and the rest of Warren county over the next 10 -15 years. I think it will be a tough stand for the locals.
April 4, 200718 yr Let me take this development arguement in another direction. (I'm new here, I can make mistakes) On the point of development and the nature of housing... When I grew up in Middletown (MT) in the 70s, there was not a lot of development between MT and Cincy. Over the past 25 years it has filled in with tons of housing, and now some offices & such here and there. That's an area of perhaps 100 sq miles or more. What I see is that most of that housing has been, well, vanilla. The same as all other housing. If you drive around Mason, WestChester, and now Liberty Township, you see by-and-large the same type of housing: high density subdivisions Are developers, well, sort of 'uncreative' around here? I know the economic arguements for why the build, but maybe someone should stand up and insist on something different in their community. Maybe developers could pick a 200-acre area and build equistrian-themed housing - homes on large lots with a small pasture each, and a community barn, pasture, and bridal trails in the area. There have got to be a lot of other alternative housing designs instead of what we seem to get. After buiding 10,000+ houses all the same on lots on the same over the past 20 years, maybe we could get some new housing options. I for one do not like the look of the current subdivisions. There are a few areas with older established neighborhoods (pre-1970), and there are some condos around, but not a lot of other choices in SFR. We need more options in SFR. Why keep building the same thing, over and over and over?
April 4, 200718 yr 1) city annexation - yes, this is my fear. If the townships make it difficult for developers, then the developers can request annexation to the neighboring city. If the county encourages this, it is hard for a township to stop, at least that is my fear. This should be your fear, especially because Monroe has already annexed all the way past Greentree along 75 on the west, and we all know Monroe has low housing standards. Middletown rejected a plan to annex acerage from Turtlecreek Township to built several hundred homes between Greentree and Hendrickson a year or so back, but if a developer would come up with a decent plan that the county rejects, Middletown would most likely annex and the project would happen. Are developers, well, sort of 'uncreative' around here? Not sort of, they are. You'll find similar discussions all over this forum, Daytonati developers continue to only offer the same old product.
April 4, 200718 yr When I grew up in Middletown (MT) in the 70s, there was not a lot of development between MT and Cincy. Over the past 25 years it has filled in with tons of housing, and now some offices & such here and there. If you look closely, as you drive the backroads, this area between Dayton and Cincy was not true rural (in an economic sense) even before the 1970s. A lot of the larger- lot ribbon development along the country roads in this area probably dates from the 1950s and 1960s, judging from the housing styles, which continued on into the 1970s (and the odd subdivision here or there). Subdivision suburbia out in the farms is a newer thing in Daytonnati, though, more from the 1990s and maybe 80s.
April 7, 200718 yr From the 4/5/07 DDN: Developers in court over cost of sewers Soraya Farms' suit says Beazer Homes didn't get bids, overcharged by 50 percent. By Lawrence Budd Staff Writer Thursday, April 05, 2007 LEBANON — Two developers competing for business along the Ohio 48 corridor and the Warren-Montgomery county line also are at odds over the cost of a sewer project plumbing the way for their developments. Soraya Farms, a company set up by Centerville-based Design Homes to develop 179 acres just south of the county line, claims Beazer Homes, developer of the 1,000-house Villages of Winding Creek, overcharged by about 50 percent for a sanitary sewer line from Montgomery County and across the Soraya site to the Beazer land. "Instead of obtaining competitive bids, Beazer awarded the work to a contractor that it was using to develop the Beazer property without securing Soraya's approval," attorney Lowell T. Woods said in a lawsuit filed March 8 in Warren County Common Pleas Court. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/neighbors/2007/04/05/ddn040507lawsuit.html From the 4/6/07 Middletown Journal: Warren County's northern areas seeking collaboration By Christopher Magan Staff Writer Friday, April 06, 2007 Administrators from Warren County's northern communities want to open better lines of communication with each other and their county officials. Franklin City Manager James Lukas is spearheading a collaborative of city and township managers aimed at finding better ways to work together and with the county government. "We get together to begin a dialog on issues and get a better understanding of our communities and their needs," Lukas said. http://www.middletownjournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/06/mj040607citymanager.html
April 8, 200718 yr From the 4/7/07 Enquirer: * PHOTO: The 2008 Homearama will be the first time the same subdivision has hosted the event three times. Deerfield Township's Long Cove had it in 2005 and 2006, too. Enquirer file photo Homearama '08 at Long Cove again BY JEFF MCKINNEY | [email protected] DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP - Long Cove subdivision will be the site of the 2008 Homearama, the region's most expensive home show. The board of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati - the event's organizer - Thursday night selected the Long Cove subdivision to host next year's show, said David Wittekind, president of the group. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070407/BIZ01/704070323/
April 9, 200718 yr The group, made up of administrators from Carlisle, Franklin, Springboro, Waynesville and Clearcreek Twp., already had one meeting and they plan to chat Wednesday with county Administrator Dave Gully. Christine Thompson, Springboro city manager, said the meeting is an opportunity to talk specifically about issues that impact northern Warren County. They should also be coordinating with southern Montgomery & Southwestern Greene Counties. This is a good sign of some regional thinking among local officials.
April 9, 200718 yr ""We want Dave Gully and the commissioners to know that we are here and want to help in any way we can," she said. "We want to make sure we are involved." sounds like the northern communities want some say-so in what happens in their part of the county. They don't want to blindly accept what the county is planning for them. ----- "Through collaboration the group also hopes to avoid some of the mistakes made when development in the southern part of the county took off, said Dennis Pickett, Clearcreek Twp. administrator. "I don't think anyone planned Fields Ertel Road," Pickett said. "Working with our peers to understand their experiences can only help us avoid mistakes." Yep, sounds like the locals in the northern area saw what the county let happen in the southern part and are saying - "Hold on, we don't want you to do to us what you did to them!" There is citizen resistance in other parts of the county as well. We are all looking at Fields-Ertel, Mason area, WestChester, etc, and saying we don't want to be like that!
April 9, 200718 yr ^ Yeah, but for all this positive sentiment, look at what has already happened in northern Warren...that highway between Franklin and Springboro is another messy strip development, not too different from what you find down south of Mason. And that was developed fairly recently, I think (the part closer to Springboro). Politicians are talking and saying what people want to hear. What they actually let happen is another story. (I tend to be a bit cynical about all this stuff)
April 9, 200718 yr ^ I strongly agree that with you that what politicians say and actually let happen are often 2 different things. While Franklin, Springboro, and Clearcreak politicians may be saying the want things to develop in a nice, slow, orderly way, I have to wonder if what they are saying is "don't leave us out, we want our share". I attend church in Springboro, near the intersection of sr 73 (the road you referenced) and sr 741. Driving thru Springboro proper, with its 2 blocks of historic houses, is nice. Then you cross sr73 and head north to the Dayton Mall. That is beginning to resemble uncontrolled growth. Between sr 73 on the north, and (a line corresponding to) 129 on the south, we're trying to hold out. It's a tough fight. clarification - I'm not saying Fields-Ertle, Mason, and Westchester are all bad. It's not my cup of tea, but I go to each on occasion. What I'm saying is that we don't need to repeat that model throughout the area. We need diversity in our suburbs. Maybe that's what the northern communities are saying also. (I also tend to bye a bit cynical)
April 12, 200718 yr I attended a meeting Tuesday night (April 10, 2007) of the Warren County Regional Planning Commission. At the meeting, the commission voted to adopt the Land-Use Plan and the road plan they had been working on. Greentree Road is to be upgraded to 'major collector status' (or some such term), which means they expect to widen it to 5 lanes when the daily traffic level reaches the 15,000/day range. (Don't know what it is today). The anticipated volume when all the build-out in the area is done will be in the 23k cars/day. A couple of landowners came to the meeting to protest their designation. One elderly farmer in particular requested (in writing ahead of time, in person at the meeting) to not have his land usage changed to business. The commission members debated this, then voted. 3 committee members sided with the landowner. 8 others stabbed him in the back. He left completely dejected with the whole affair...... sad.
April 12, 200718 yr From the 4/12/07 Enquirer: Trustees hear from foes of impact fees Hamilton Twp. delays vote BY KATIE WEDELL | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR HAMILTON TWP. - The township trustees decided to delay the first reading of an impact fee resolution until their next meeting after a lengthy public hearing Wednesday. The midday hearing saw a large turnout of residents and business owners, most expressing negative opinions of the resolution. "It's a disgrace to Hamilton Township," said 40-year resident Joe Rippe. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070412/NEWS01/704120407/ From Community Press Mason-Deerfield Twp, 4/11/07: Complaint: Mason bond mailings false BY ERIC BRADLEY | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER MASON - A Mason man opposing the Mason school district's May 8 bond issue to expand Mason High School has filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission. John Meyer, president of the tax-accountability group Citizens for Accountability and Results in Education, sent the complaint April 10. In the complaint, Meyer said that mailings sent by pro-bond Committee for Preserving Quality in Mason City Schools violated a section of the Ohio Revised Code that prohibits knowingly sending out false statements regarding a campaign issue. http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20070411/NEWS01/704110352/
April 13, 200718 yr From the 4/13/07 Enquirer: Online video pushes Kings school issue Chronicles overcrowded conditions BY MICHAEL D. CLARK | [email protected] DEERFIELD TWP. - Backers of a $27.2 million bond issue to expand overcrowded Kings High School are giving their campaign a "YouTube" twist by featuring a rare online video they hope will sway voters next month. It might be the first time an online video, which also will be distributed in a DVD format to 200 voters, has played such a key role in a Greater Cincinnati school system's tax issue campaign. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070413/NEWS0102/704130437/ From the 4/12/07 Pulse-Journal: Fire department focuses on facts Chief, city manager seek to dispel criticism, rumors. By Denise G. Callahan Staff Writer Thursday, April 12, 2007 The Mason Fire Department continues to answer criticism on several fronts — and the facts support the department, said Fire Chief Rich Fletcher. After the fire on Top Flite Lane in the Crooked Tree subdivision two weeks ago, all sorts of reports came out accusing the fire department of once again bungling a fire in the subdivision. Two years ago, a house did burn to the ground just around the block from the recent fire, and mistakes were made. Most of what was said about the recent fire — including 30-40 minute response times and other accusations — has since been debunked. New rumors have surfaced, from how the fire department conducts site plans of commercial buildings to which station is in charge of responding first to the Crooked Tree subdivision. http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/12/pjm041207fireA1.html
April 14, 200718 yr From the 4/13/07 Hamilton JournalNews: Ohio elections officials set hearing on Mason pro-bond literature Meyer claims statement on campaign material is false By Richard Wilson Staff Writer Friday, April 13, 2007 Mason — The Ohio Elections Commission has scheduled a probable cause hearing to discuss John Meyer's allegations that Mason's pro-school bond issue committee distributed a false statement on campaign literature, according to a commission letter sent Thursday to both parties. The hearing is set for 11 a.m. Monday. According to the letter, signed by Ohio Elections Commission secretary Betty Springer, it's not mandated, but "strongly encouraged" that both John Meyer and representatives with the Committee for Preserving Quality in Mason City Schools attend the hearing. Meyer alleges that the statement, "The bond won't raise taxes" — in regards to the $30 million bond issue on the May 8 ballot — is false. If the request passes, the money will be used to build an addition to Mason High School. http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/13/pjm041307hearingweb.html
April 19, 200718 yr From the 4/19/07 DDN: Hamilton Twp. hears pros, cons of proposed fees By Danyrae Lockwood Staff Writer Thursday, April 19, 2007 The Hamilton Twp. Administration Building was packed April 11 with builders and developers who wanted their voices heard about proposed impact fees. "By adding this fee to each and every house, you effectively eliminate the ability for some to take part in the American dream of owning a home," said Dan Hendricks, Homeowners Association of Cincinnati executive director. Township Zoning and Planning Administrator Gary Boeres said the township conducted research from 2004-06 that included public meetings and estimated the future costs and needs if the township's population continues to grow. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/19/pjl041907impactfeesinside.html From same: Impact fees raise concerns Meeting packed with developers who oppose payments on new construction. Thursday, April 19, 2007 By Danyrae Lockwood Staff Writer Builders and developers aren't shy about their opposition to a proposed Hamilton Twp. impact fee. The administration building was packed at an April 11 public hearing on the subject. Such a fee would be a one-time payment for new infrastructures being built and would go into four separate accounts — park, police, fire and roads. It would pay for new infrastructure costs, but not the continued operational costs or salaries. "One of the reasons they're looking at these fees is the township provides what we consider a very high level of service," Township Zoning and Planning Administrator Gary Boeres said. "With them, we can continue having excellent police, excellent fire, great parks and roads operating correctly." http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/19/pjl041907impactfeesA1.html From Cincinnati.com, 4/16/07: Kingswood closed for good in Deerfield Township Contributed By Carrie Whitaker | The Enquirer Deerfield Township Board of Trustees decided at an April meeting to close Kingswood Golf Course indefinitely. The 100-acres course was purchased by the township for $8 million in March 2006 to keep the land from being annexed by the City of Mason, according to the township’s spokeswoman, Fran Klatte. “It’s a pretty valuable piece of land,” Klatte said. “The township never purchased it with the intention to keep it as a golf course.” http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100227&sid=111155
April 20, 200718 yr ^ Clarification on the Kingswood golf course article... Greentree golf course is located in Warren County, not Butler County as the article states. My property backs up to it. Actually, their maintenance building is the smaller companion barn to my barn. Both were owned by previous owners of my house when it was a 380 farm. Don Likes, the head of the Likes family, passed away last Fall. His famly still runs Greentree Golf course.
April 20, 200718 yr From the 4/19/07 DDN: Council delays vote on project By Lawrence Budd Staff Writer Thursday, April 19, 2007 WAYNESVILLE — The Village Council postponed until May 7 a final vote on the Oberer development. Rather than conduct a final vote on April 9 during a special meeting called for this purpose, the council agreed to give Oberer another month to resolve more than 20 issues with the proposed 480 acre, 800-home planned unit development. "It is council's desire to give any developer proposing a PUD every opportunity to demonstrate how the proposal will enhance the community and the overall quality of life in the village," Village Manager Bruce Snell said. http://www.daytondailynews.com/community/content/oh/story/news/local/neighbors/2007/04/19/ddn041907waynesville.html
April 27, 200718 yr From the 4/26/07 Enquirer: Mason school complaint dismissed BY MICHAEL D. CLARK | [email protected] A tie vote at the Ohio Elections Commission this afternoon resulted in the dismissal of a complaint filed by anti-tax activists that claimed Mason school officials lied about how a $30 million bond issue on next month’s ballot would not raise taxes. The state commission voted 3-3, with one member absent due to illness on the issue. That resulted in a dismissal of the complaint with no finding of a campaign violation, said Philip Richter, executive director of the commission. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070426/NEWS01/304260051/
April 27, 200718 yr Both from the 4/26/07 DDN: Township closer to impact fees By Danyrae Lockwood Staff Writer Thursday, April 26, 2007 The Hamilton Twp. Board of Trustees passed the first reading April 18 to enact impact fees, which would add a payment on new infrastructure. Hamilton Twp. — a home-rule township — could become the first township in the state to impose an impact fee "(New residents) want the same lifestyle of the city with the same services, and this is a way when people move here they'll be able to get those same services," six-year resident Jim Frederick said. "The dollars and cents wouldn't have changed my decision to move here." http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/26/pjl042607impactfeesA1.html Hamilton Twp. trustees address concerns over fees Boeres: Developers' donations would count toward fees. By Danyrae Lockwood Staff Writer Thursday, April 26, 2007 On April 18, Hamilton Twp. passed a first reading to enact impact fees — amid more concerns and questions during a lengthy meeting. "This is not a recurring tax that shows up on a bill. It's a one-time fee," Township Zoning and Planning Administrator Gary Boeres said. "It's not retroactive on any existing development and it would only apply to new construction." Developers are worried about reimbursements or credits and how "double dipping" would be handled. Many asked about situations if they added new infrastructure that benefited the community — only to also have to pay an impact fee. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/26/pjl042607impactfeesinside.html
April 28, 200718 yr From the 4/27/07 Enquirer: Seven builders will construct 80 homes BY JEFF MCKINNEY | [email protected] MASON – Seven local builders plan to build at least 80 additional homes at Chestnut Hill along Mason-Montgomery Road. Blue Ash-based developer Great Traditions Land & Development Co. says construction has begun and the new development could be completed in about three years. The homes will start at $650,000 and be a minimum of 4,000 square feet, says Nancy Young, spokeswoman at Great Traditions. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070427/BIZ01/304270030/
April 29, 200718 yr MASON – Seven local builders plan to build at least 80 additional homes at Chestnut Hill along Mason-Montgomery Road. Good, every time I am on that clusterf*ck of a street, I say to myself, "gee, a bunch more homes and their inherent traffic would really make this a much better experience". :-D
May 2, 200718 yr From the 5/2/07 Pusle-Journal: Deerfield says no to more Fields Ertel development Enacts moratorium for up to one year until comprehensive plan is completed Wednesday, May 02, 2007 By Denise G. Callahan Staff Writer For the first time in its history, Deerfield Twp. has declared a development moratorium on the entire Fields Ertel corridor for up to a year as it completes its comprehensive plan. The trustees on Tuesday passed a resolution adopting a moratorium that prevents any new development or re-development along the corridor — within 1,000 feet of Fields Ertel on the north side from Butler-Warren Road on the west to the Little Miami River on the east. http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/02/pjm050207moratoriumweb.html
May 4, 200718 yr From the 5/4/07 Enquirer: Voters to decide Mason bond next week Issue would raise $30M to expand high school BY MICHAEL D. CLARK | [email protected] MASON - Voters here will decide on Tuesday whether to approve a bond issue to expand the crowded Mason High School - an expansion supporters say won't raise taxes. The 1.27-mill bond issue would raise $30 million over 28 years and finance a three-story addition of 49 classrooms. The high school, which opened in 2002, already houses 2,700 students and exceeds its designed enrollment capacity. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070504/NEWS01/705040426/ From the 5/3/07 DDN: Land purchase to help schools grow Wayne Local Schools bought two homes on 12 acres on Old Route 73; district near or at capacity in all buildings. By Lawrence Budd Staff Writer Thursday, May 03, 2007 WAYNESVILLE — For now, the Wayne Local Schools will play landlord, renting two homes on 12 acres on Old Route 73 purchased earlier this month for $550,000. But school officials view acquisition of the properties from Thomas Kier as another step toward securing space for the district to expand from its central campus. "This represents an exciting step into the future as we consider expanding our school campus right here in the center of the school district, maintaining our unique small-town schools," Superintendent Tom Isaacs said in an e-newsletter following the board's vote April 19 during a special meeting. http://www.daytondailynews.com/community/content/oh/story/news/local/neighbors/2007/05/03/ddn050307z3waynesville.html
May 5, 200718 yr Both from the 5/5/07 Enquirer: Warren Co. poverty numbers up Still well below Ohio average in fast-growing suburban area ENQUIRER STAFF REPORT Warren County is one of the most affluent counties in Ohio, yet poverty here is becoming a bigger concern, according to a report card on public health and social issues issued Friday. There was a 21 percent increase in the poverty rate from 2000 to 2003 (the most recent year available), from 4.2 percent to 5.1 percent of the county population. Seven of 10 measures of "stable families" were moving in the wrong direction, officials said. For example, the rate of people depending on food stamps grew from 1.2 percent in 2000 to 1.9 percent in 2005. The number of homeless people counted in the county grew from 339 to 378 people, from 2003 to 2006. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070505/NEWS01/705050372/ Bond-issue video gives Kings confidence BY MICHAEL D. CLARK | [email protected] DEERFIELD TWP. - After having a $27.2 million bond issue lose by just 234 votes last fall, supporters of the bond issue for Kings schools are hoping that the thousands who have watched their unusual campaign video will vote for the new tax's passage this Tuesday. "We estimate that over 8,000 people have seen the video either at public showings, the Web site and from the 200 DVDs in circulation," said Beth Schlehr, co-chair of the private group campaigning for the bond issue on Tuesday's ballot. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070505/NEWS0102/705050350/
May 10, 200718 yr From the 5/8/07 DDN: Waynesville Village Council approves huge development By Staff Reports Tuesday, May 08, 2007 WAYNESVILLE — The Waynesville Village Council on Monday unanimously approved a 480-acre, 786 residential planned unit development expected to double the size of this 200-year-old town over the next two decades. Oberer Land Developers won approval of plans for a mix of single and multi-family homes, 50 acres of commercial development and a 60-acre wildlife refuge on the LeMay farm. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/08/ddn050807waynesville.html From Community Press Mason-Deerfield, 5/9/07: Kings bond issue is approved BY ANDREA REEVES | [email protected] KINGS MILLS - Kings Local School District officials will tackle maintenance issues and replace buses now that voters approved a bond issue that will generate $27.1 million. Kings voters approved a 2.5-mill bond issue May 8 with 2,223 votes for and 1,871 votes against, according to the Warren County Board of Elections. http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070509/NEWS01/705090380/1002/RSS01
May 10, 200718 yr Both from the 5/9/07 Western Star: Lebanon ready to charge developers growth costs By Daniel Wells Staff Writer Wednesday, May 09, 2007 Lebanon City Council voted to proceed with fees that city officials say will force new development to do a better job of paying its own way, Tuesday. Two council members, Jeff Monroe and Matt Rodriguez, wanted to postpone a decision about the fees so they could be included in a larger discussion about the city's troubled finances, but the rest of the council members voted against the delay. On May 22, Lebanon City Council will take a final vote on the fees, which assess developers for the impact their residential and commercial projects have on the city's roads and parks. http://www.western-star.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/09/ws051007impactfees.html Mason moves forward with high school expansion project High school to squeeze in more students until construction complete in 2009. By Richard Wilson Staff Writer Wednesday, May 09, 2007 With voters' approval of a $30 million school bond issue on Tuesday, Mason school officials will move forward with plans to build additions to the high school. But the challenge for the high school staff will be to maximize Mason High School's existing space until 2009, when the expansion project is scheduled for completion. Principal Dave Allen said next year's enrollment will increase from 2,700 students to at least 2,900 students. Getting those students scheduled for classes in limited space will be tough, he said. http://www.western-star.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/09/pjm051007masonbondinside.html
May 11, 200718 yr Sure. $300,000 is "affordable". Keep dreaming. The link contains a photo of this lame project. Affordability a new factor BY JEFF MCKINNEY | [email protected] DEERFIELD TWP. - A Mason developer hopes to score big again with 102 condominiums it is building on Wilkens Boulevard. The $30 million development, called The Woods on Wilkens, will offer ranch-style condos that include two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two-car attached garages and extra storage space. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070510/BIZ01/705100350/ From the 5/10/07 Pulse-Journal: Does Deerfield building ban include Erbeck Farm housing plan? Township, developer argue about whether week-old moratorium on Fields Eertel Road projects applies to subdivision at Wilkens and Snider roads. By Denise G. Callahan Staff Writer Wednesday, May 09, 2007 Deerfield Twp. trustees are still sorting out whether the new moratorium on development or re-development along the Fields Ertel Road corridor applies to a new multi-use development. The trustees put a one-year building ban in place last week for all properties on the north side of Fields Ertel — from Butler-Warren Road on the west to the Little Miami River on the east — while the township government completes its comprehensive plan. Properties within 1,000 feet of the road are affected. Deerfield Twp. Administrator Dan Evers said officials developers and real estate agents have called about whether the building ban might affect them. http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/09/pjm051007erbeck.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 5/14/07 Cincinnati Business Courier: Impact fees hit Hamilton Twp. Cincinnati Business Courier - May 11, 2007 by Laura Baverman Staff Reporter Taxes won't rise anytime soon in Hamilton Township, but a new resolution instead places the financial burden on those moving into the Warren County community. Township trustees approved a series of four impact fees May 2. The money will be spent on future roadway improvements, needs of the fire and police departments and the park system as the community grows. The fees will cost owners of a new single-family home about $6,100 once a building permit is filed. "I don't like high taxes," said Michael Muñoz, a township trustee. "I'd rather put the fee where the usage is." http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/05/14/story4.html
May 19, 200718 yr From the 5/17/07 DDN: Sword plans fall through By Lawrence Budd Staff Writer Thursday, May 17, 2007 CLEARCREEK TWP., Warren County — For Sale: 22 acres on Lower Springboro Road previously envisioned as a college campus for Baptist missionaries for the deaf. The Rev. Fred Adams and the Texas-based World Mission Society wanted to build the Sword Deaf College, including a dormitory, classrooms and church on the land east of Ohio 48 in Clearcreek Twp. Problems with neighbors and local government officials, and the absence of adequate utilities, have caused Adams and the mission society to refocus on land in Liberty Twp., where they've "treated Pastor Adams with open arms," said Chad Fine, Realtor for the school's existing eight acres in Mason, as well as the Lower Springboro parcel. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/neighbors/2007/05/17/ddn051707z3sword.html
May 20, 200718 yr From Cincinnati.com, 5/18/07: Deerfield Zoning Commission: No zoning change for developer Contributed By Carrie Whitaker | The Enquirer The Deerfield Township Zoning Commission voted unanimously at its May 14 meeting not to allow a zoning change for construction of single-family homes, condominiums and businesses on a plot of land north of Fields Ertel Road and west of Wilkens Boulevard. The land is currently zoned for single-family homes and the proposed change would allow a mix of single- and multi-family housing and three acres of business on nearly 80 acres. Prior to the Zoning Commission’s decision, the Warren County Regional Planning Commission approved the change, as long as the developer addressed traffic concerns. http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100227&sid=112855
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