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Neighbors object to lifting of 1987 deed restriction; board declines vote tonight
Summary
Residents urged the Yellow Springs school board not to release a 1987 deed restriction on a nearby parcel, saying the covenant influenced home purchases and protects green space; the board said it does not own the land, holds only the restriction and will not vote tonight because of quorum and a declared conflict of interest.
Neighbors told the Yellow Springs Exempted Village School Board on Aug. 8 they oppose a requested release of deed restrictions on a parcel referenced in the agenda as the 1987 deed‑restriction release for the Spellon/Spellen/Skolland Road property (transcript contains variant spellings).
Multiple residents said the restriction — which they understood limited development to a single house or preserved the property as green space — was a material factor in their decision to buy and in the value of their homes. "I was given a guarantee that there was a restriction on this land, that only 1 home would be built on it," said Paige Rubel, who said her yard backs up to the parcel. Sharon Bonadise told the board she was offended when a board member spoke over a resident during public comment.
Board members explained the district no longer owns the parcel but does hold deed restrictions dating back decades and said those restrictions can be released if legal and procedural conditions are met. One trustee stated she must abstain because the Ohio Ethics Commission advises she has a conflict of interest tied to property ownership, and the board acknowledged that, with the abstention, it lacked a quorum to vote on the release tonight.
The board encouraged written comments and said it will not sign or approve the release at this meeting. "We're not gonna make a decision on that tonight," the Chair said, inviting residents to submit written concerns to the district communications email.
What’s next: because of the declared conflict and lack of quorum, the board did not vote and asked for additional public input and time to review. Officials said lifting recorded deed restrictions does not automatically change municipal zoning or guarantee development would occur; any separate village approval or developer proposals would be subject to their own processes.
Transparency and process: residents asked for more notice and fuller disclosure of communications between the district and private parties; board members said they would try to provide written documentation where possible and to schedule further discussion at a later meeting when a quorum and full legal review can be present.
