Dear Supporters,
There has been a major development - read this post in full right now because time is of the essence. On Thursday, 20 October @ 7:00PM at the next city council meeting to hear on an emergency ordinance that, if approved, would approve (immediately, on 20 OCT) the rezoning and the approval of the final development plan for Easton Farm. If you signed this petition and have had concerns in the past - you should be very concerned now - everything is back on if council approves this proposed settlement. We only learned of this information yesterday and have just a few days before the meeting. Read on and get involved TODAY. DO NOT WAIT, a vote can be taken on 20 OCT that, apparently, would decide this matter for good. Read on below, and most importantly, email city council at council@cityofspringboro.com and attend AND speak at the 20 OCT, 7:00 PM city council meeting at the city building.
So, what's happening? You may recall after the city rejected the development last year, the developer filed a lawsuit threatening to sue the city. The city appears gun shy of a trial and participated in mediation leading to a proposed settlement. In this proposed settlement, almost certainly up for a vote on 20 October, it looks like the city surrendered to the developer, it does not look anything like a real negotiation. This settlement completely rejects and contradicts the city council's unanimous rejection of this development plan, invalidates all the hard work residents of this city undertook to voice our opposition and, one might conclude, betrays the purpose of a representative government. City council voted the resident's will when they rejected the development plan last year, if they approve this settlement they will have betrayed the purpose of their office and will of the people.
This proposed settlement document and a Dayton Daily News article explaining some background can be found at the links below. The general plan that is included as part of this settlement (the yellow colored image in this post) includes all of the same issues that you (the signers of this petition) and our community objected to before and our citizen representatives on city council rejected last year, such as: HIGH DENSITY (250+ apartments, 210 townhomes and single family houses for a total of ~462 units), tiny 40 foot wide lot row houses, green space that is not centralized and is used as a buffer for the remaining farm owners instead of an asset for to benefit city residents, and so much more -- all of this creating a mini city on a parcel of land surrounded by calm suburban family neighborhoods. And the settlement doesn't end there it adds in tax breaks and other benefits to the developer.
The ordinance will be read and almost certainly voted on on 20 OCT. Here is the impact:
- Since this is an emergency ordinance, it only needs to be read once and can be voted on immediately on 20 OCT, based on section 5.05 of Springboro's codified ordinances.
- If city council approves it, the land will be rezoned from R-1 to PUD-MU (this is the change needed to build the developer-proposed high density mixed use development). Also, per the settlement the city will be required to "approve all processes, procedures, applications and action to fully effectuate and implement the Application and plan, including the final development plan", which judging by this language and section 12.66 and 5.05 of Springboro's codified ordinances, sounds like it mandates city council to approve the full development plan as well as the zoning, which is everything the development needs to move forward.
- If denied, the issue will go to trial with a tentative date of March 20, 2023.
We need your help and we need it now. There is no later. There is only now. Email city council (council@cityofspringboro.com), come speak at the 20 OCT @ 7:00 PM meeting (you CAN speak before the vote) or call the mayor at 937-748-0842 (other council phone numbers can be found here: https://www.cityofspringboro.com/Directory.aspx?did=16 -- try them all!).
Thank you!
Note: We will seek more information from the city and pass on any additional news or clarifications - this is the best available data available right now.
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