Beavercreek council sends Amberwood buffer change to planning commission after split vote

Beavercreek — The City Council voted 3-2 on June 23 to send a proposed change to the 25-foot buffer along the Amberwood subdivision’s Hole 7 fairway to the planning commission as a major modification, opening the issue to a public hearing and mailed notice to nearby property owners.

The motion means planning commission will consider converting Amberwood’s recorded 25-foot “no disturbance” area into a less restrictive “no cut” or landscape buffer and can recommend conditions such as required tree plantings, permits or restoration work. The vote recorded Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Littoral and Mayor Adams as voting in favor; Councilmember Garcia and Councilmember Kern voted no.

The change was prompted after city staff discovered a property owner on Lot 14 had cleared underbrush, built a stone retaining wall and installed a patio and putting green without the permits staff says were required for the retaining structures. Randy Burkett, the city’s planning director, told council the Amberwood specific site plan uses the phrase “25-foot no disturbance area” while nearby developments use a defined “no cut” or landscape buffer that allows lawns and passive recreation so long as trees larger than 4 inches in diameter are not removed.

Burkett said staff’s proposal would…