Conditions put on Oberer’s new plan for Sugarcreek

Planning commission delaying review to address design issues.

The Regional Planning and Coordinating Commission of Greene County will consider a new plan by Oberer Land Developers to build nearly 100 homes across from the Sugarcreek Reserve MetroPark.

The new plan consists of building 98 patio-style homes on about half of the roughly 85 acres at the corner of Conference and Wilmington-Dayton roads south of the city of Bellbrook on the western edge of Sugarcreek Twp. The homes would sell for between $350,000 to $400,000, according to regional planning documents.

Forty acres of the land would be preserved as green space as part of a conservation easement agreement between Sugarcreek and Washington Twps., according to planning documents.

The planning commission members will review the new plan and may vote to approve or deny it at their September meeting, according to Devon Shoemaker, RPCC executive director.

“The developer asked me to delay the full commission review until the Sept. 25 meeting so that they could address some design issues,” Shoemaker said.

Oberer withdrew its original plan earlier this year to build 114 homes on the site. Several residents voiced concerns that the proposed development called for lot sizes too small for the surrounding residential area. The original plan also wasn’t in compliance with the county’s comprehensive thoroughfare plan, which calls for straightening the 90-degree turn where Wilmington Pike turns into Conference Road.

The new plan increases the

lot widths from 65 to 75 feet and eliminates the southern entrance to the proposed subdivision, according to planning documents.

Oberer representative Greg Smith presented the new plan to the planning commission’s executive committee on Aug. 21. The executive committee voted 4-1, with Miami Twp. Trustee Chris Mucher dissenting, to recommend the plan to the full commission with certain conditions, including a making a larger turn radius at Wilmington-Dayton and Conference roads, increasing speed from 35 to 45 mph (the county’s thoroughfare plan calls for 55 mph) and adding a second entrance, according to planning documents.

Resident Megan Simmons spoke against the new plans during the planning commission’s executive committee meeting. Simmons said “the subdivision is bringing the city to the country,” and lot sizes should be 2.25 acres, similar to neighboring properties, according to a record of the minutes from the meeting. The current plan calls for less than an acre per house.

Cara Tilford, Sugarcreek Twp. director of planning and zoning, said the developer needed time to “digest and address” the RPCC executive committee’s recommendations.

Providing the regional planning commission approves the proposal, the township’s zoning commission will consider the plan at its October meeting.

‘The subdivision is bringing the city to the country.’ Megan Simmons Resident