Trustees schedule work session to review land use plan after debate over density language

Trustees spent a significant portion of the meeting questioning language in the township’s land use plan that they said could be read to encourage higher‑density development in areas where public water and sewer are or will be available. Trustees said they prefer slower, lower‑intensity growth to preserve the township’s rural character and noted removing the Joint Economic Development (JED) district had been done because some residents opposed heavier growth.

Board members pointed to a section of the land use plan that describes suburban residential areas with densities "no more than six dwelling units per acre" and said that language, along with goals to facilitate expansion of public water and sewer, might allow denser projects than trustees want. One trustee warned that approving the plan without changes could send the wrong signal when developers seek approvals.

Trustees agreed to use the Oct. 17 work session to review the land use plan from the start and propose specific edits to the county submission rather than making only minor tweaks. No formal amendment or vote to alter the county‑filed plan was recorded at the meeting; staff noted that substantial changes may require resubmission to county review processes.

The board also referenced recent property activity (Ron Watson’s recent purchase of a parcel) as an example of why the township should be “proactive rather than reactive” when development proposals arrive.