Dear Harrison Township Board of Zoning Appeals & Trustees,

We the undersigned residents of Indian Hills Subdivision and Harrison Township are petitioning the BZA to reconsider the initial variance application or a similar application submitted to the BZA in regards to the former Indian Hills Golf Course, for a lot split and creation of 9 flag lots.

The property in question is currently in the process of developing a 51 home subdivision on the site. The preliminary plans for the new subdivision were approved by the Licking County Planning Commision via the Licking County Courts in August of 2024. As residents of Indian Hills subdivision and Harrison Township we are concerned about the future of our subdivision and the township. We believe that the approval of the previously requested variance or a similar variance for flag lots would be in the best interest of the existing neighborhood and township.

Our school systems are currently on the verge of being over capacity and the recent levy for expansion was denied by the voters in April of 2025. As a township we should be looking out for the best interest of the entire community and school district. The addition of 9 homes would allow for reasonable expansion, while not putting an undue burden on the school system. The addition of 51 homes combined with all the other development in the community is going to negatively impact our already crowded schools, causing the need for a new levy and increase of property tax in order to compensate.

The board askes itself multiple questions when making a recommendation on a variance application. Those questions are as follows:

♦ Whether the property in question will yield a reasonable return or whether there can be any beneficial use of the property without a variance.

• The property in question could have a beneficial use without a variance by continuing with the existing plans for a subdivision with 51 homes. While this may be beneficial for the developer it is not in the best interest of the township and the existing subdivision. The most reasonable return with beneficial use would be to approve the variance and allow 9 lots to be created on the land. This would protect the existing subdivision while also allowing for reasonable growth without burdening the community.

♦ Whether the variance is substantial.

• The variance in question is in regards to the amount of road frontage for each of the 9 lots. While the variance ranges from 84%- 90% this is not very substantial when compared to the fact that the entire 49.43 acre lot only has 145.31 feet of total road frontage split between two separate areas, making anything short of a single residence unobtainable without a variance. The township has set a precedence by approving very similar variances in the past with other flag lots including flag lots attached to existing subdivisions (see list of attached addresses).

♦ Whether the essential character of the neighborhood would be substantially altered or whether adjoining properties would suffer a substantial detriment as a result of the variance.

• The essential character of the neighborhood would not be substantially altered by the requested variance. The existing neighborhood is a small quiet subdivision holding approximately 56 homes with minimal traffic. The approval of the variance would protect this character. The existing subdivision has narrow roads with no sidewalks and deep ditches. Adding 9 homes would have a negligible effect on these preexisting issues, and even with the subdivision review process those issues would not be addressed. While there are concerns about the esthetics of having multiple trash cans and mailboxes this is not a substantial concern compared to if the property continues through the subdivision review process and proceeds with 51 homes. The existing subdivision would be substantially altered if the variance is denied by drastically increasing traffic, and altering the small quiet feel of the neighborhood. Not approving this variance would increase traffic in the subdivision by approximately 100%. Adding another 51 homes would put a large strain on the existing roads, drainage, and utilities. It would make walking on Cherokee Trail much more dangerous due to narrow roads with no sidewalks and steep drop offs into ditches. Approving this variance would be in the best interest of the existing subdivision.

♦ Whether the variance would adversely affect the delivery of governmental services (e.g., water, sewer, garbage, medical, fire, police).

• The approval of the variance would not adversely affect the delivery of governmental service. The existing subdivision would be unaffected in this regard. The new homes would have to put their trash cans on Cherokee Trail just as the rest of the residents on that road. Fire and emergency medical services would be no different than the countless other homes in Harrison Township with long driveways and set backs. The developer also agreed to put turn around points at each lot for emergency vehicle and deliveries.

♦ Whether the property owner purchased the property with knowledge of the zoning restrictions.

• Front Porch Investments is a local developer and should be aware of a lot of the zoning restrictions in the area. This would infer they did have knowledge of the restrictions prior to purchase. They are also aware of the precedent set by the BZA of approving flag lots in the township in the past.

♦ Whether the property owner’s predicament feasibly can be prevented orcorrected through some other method other than a variance.

• While the owners predicament could be prevented by continuing with the subdivision review process this would not be the most responsible use of the land. The variance would allow for the reasonable expansion of the community in a responsible manner.

♦ Whether the spirit and intent behind the zoning requirement would be observed and substantial justice done by granting the variance.

• The spirit and intent behind the requirement would be observed and substantial justice would be done by granting the variance. The lots would be sharing two driveways in order to best observe the spirit of the requirement and not have multiple driveways stacked on top of each other. This board has approved variances for properties very similar to this in the past, including locations on Citation Dr. and Hardwoods Dr. in Harrison Township that are attached to existing subdivisions. Substantial justice would certainly be done by approving this variance as it will protect the safety, esthetics, property value, and character of the existing subdivision while not burdening the school system.

We are asking the BZA to please reconsider its initial denial of the variance request or a similar variance, in order to protect the best interest of the existing subdivision, the township, and school district. We are asking for reasonable and responsible growth of our community that will not put an undue burden on our schools, our utilities, and our existing community. Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue.

List of flag lots in Harrison Township:

• 6013 Outville Rd. SW

• 5533 York Rd. SW

• 9547 Creek Rd.

• 1046 Citation Dr.

• 32 Hardwoods Dr.

• 27 Highland Ct.