Lawyer: Calling drain field open space ‘double dipping’
Neighbors fighting 60-home development just north of Lebanon.
TURTLECREEK TWP. — A lawyer representing neighbors opposed to a proposed 60-home development just north of Lebanon claims Warren County is violating Ohio law by including land set aside for sewage treatment as open space required in plannedunit developments.
The county commissioners delayed a decision on the development on the 70.4-acre Meadow Lane Farm on Ohio 48 in Turtlecreek Twp., while a county prosecutor researched the claim by lawyer Michael McNamee at last week’s commission meeting.
“Is that a problem?” Commissioner Tom Grossmann asked before the commissioners decided to table its decision after a public hearing at the Feb. 5 meeting.
The systems are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and Ohio EPA and operated. The one proposed would be maintained by a private contractor through funds to be provided by homeowners of the proposed Creek Song development.
It was unclear how this issue could affect other developments relying on on-site sewage treatment systems, such as Aberlin Springs, under construction just outside South Lebanon.
At the meeting, McNamee said state law “does not allow double dipping” in planned-unit developments where green space is set aside in exchange for higher-density development on the remaining land.
“We had two trailers for a long time, but we outgrew that space,” said Stacy McNutt, MacAir vice president of business operations. “The airport has done a lot of expansion lately with a new hangar and an extended runway. That longer runway will enable larger jets to land here.”
MacAir bought the used trailers in Fort Campbell, Ky., and they are waiting to be installed at the airport. The project calls for combining six of the trailers to form one building that will have office and classroom spaces and be used by flight instructors.
The other four trailers will be combined to form one building to be used by MacAir mechanics.
The total project, which involves installing a concrete foundation and plumbing work for bathrooms, is expected to cost less than $200,000, McNutt said.
“The new space will provide a good quality aviation flight experience. It will give instructors more room to meet with students to tell them what they are planning to do and briefing them after the flight,” she said.
MacAir has about 60 employees, with 11 full-time workers and the rest part- time flight instructors.
The regional airport is home to 69 aircraft, including 60 single-engine airplanes, eight multi-engine planes and one helicopter, according to AirNav.com. The airport sees an average daily traffic of 117 aircraft, and about 91 percent of the airport’s users are local, according to the website.
MacAir’s operations have grown after being awarded a multi-million dollar, fouryear contract to provide flight surgeon training for the United States Air Force.
In addition, there are 60 members in the Aero Club, which enables students to earn ratings toward a pilot’s license and enables licensed pilots to maintain ratings.