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Resident questions Turtlecreek Twp.’s delay in zone process

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer 11:32 AM Tuesday, February 9, 2010

TURTLECREEK TWP. —The wait-and-see approach by trustees here to the township’s zoning has drawn the ire of at least one resident who said the delay is costing property owner’s money.

Turtlecreek Twp. trustee Dan Jones said Monday, Feb. 9 the township would not approve a request by its fledgling zoning board for $15,000 to hire a consulting firm to put the notes and proposals assembled by the group into working order.

Jones said he felt the township’s board needed to better coordinate their efforts with the county zoning board, which is conducting a rewrite of zoning codes for the county.

“It’s my understanding that the county and township are heading towards a similar date of completion for their zoning codes, “ Jones said. “I believe (the township’s zoning board) has done a great job but they haven’t communicated well enough with the county. The county is close – let them finish (their zoning code) and we’ll see if we need to tweak it.”

The township falls under Warren County’s zoning ordinances. Five hundred Turtlecreek residents signed a petition in 2007 requesting the township take on its own zoning board. The zoning board must present a finished plan to the trustees and then take that plan to voters to ultimately decide if the township will remain under Warren County’s rule or take on their own zoning governance.

Terry Banker led the initial drive in 2007 to get the township’s own zoning board. At the trustee’s meeting, Monday, she said she was frustrated by the delays in getting a zoning code from the township’s zoning board.

“The reasons for initiating the township zoning code haven’t been addressed,” Banker said. “There is a direct correlation between having density and the cost of local government.”

Banker said her property tax bill increased 36 percent this year, a steep jump she blames in part because the trustees haven’t done enough to keep spending in check or control the growth of the area.

“You start to wonder what our local officials are doing to address the expenses of local government,” Banker said.

Jones said the delays in creating a zoning code were a natural part of the process.

“It takes a long time,” Jones said. “The zoning board is a group of intelligent people. They obviously made progress and are getting to the point when it will be completed.”

Banker also questioned why the zoning board needed to request $15,000 to hire a consulting firm.

“The zoning board was charged with writing a zoning code. That is their responsibility,” Banker said. “It’s not their job to coordinate with the county or to hire a consultant...Everybody’s been good about letting them do their work, but taxpayers have paid for that board to meet for two years.”

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