Planning future use of 45 square miles in Warren County

Wayne Twp. rewriting zoning in anticipation of growth

With residential growth pressing in, this township is rewriting the rules governing the use and development of almost 40 square miles of land in the northeastern corner of Warren County.

It has been almost 20 years since Wayne Twp. updated its zoning code.

On Wednesday, the township and Warren County Regional Planning Commission unveil the product of months of revision and discussion designed to chart the area's development future, while hanging on to its undeveloped past.

“That’s part of what we are trying to do, preserve our rural character,” said Erin Hartsock, zoning inspector for the township, encompassing the villages of Waynesville and Corwin.

The new code builds on work by township and county staff, residents, as well as a study completed in 2015 by Wright State University, “Rural Charm, Residential Appeal: Maintaining the Distinctive Character of Wayne Twp., Ohio.”

The changes, reflecting changes in zoning and land uses, are another example of work by staff of the regional planning commission staff designed to guide quality development in the fast-growing county.

With local input, the staff has developed a series of plans and code updates for communities in Warren County managing growth between Dayton and Cincinnati. Next on their agenda are code rewrites for the Village of Maineville in Warren County and the City of Wilmington in Clinton County.

“We have new tools that have been offered by the state,” said Stan Williams, executive director of the commission. “The values of the community change too. The zoning code need to be updated to reflect that.”

In Wayne Twp., residential developers will be permitted 40 percent more density for every 30 percent of land set aside as “open space,” including areas with steep grade changes or woodlands.

“That’s all borrowing heavily from the county code,” said Zachary Moore, the county planner on the project.

To the north are Montgomery and Greene counties, including Washington and Sugarcreek townships and Belbrook, undergoing growth spurts.

To the west, Springboro is experiencing commercial growth, mainly along the Interstate 75 corridor. Clearcreek Twp. is undergoing residential growth along the Montgomery-Warren County line and now in Red Lion, south of Springboro.

Most people think of Waynesville and Corwin, the two municipalities in Wayne Twp., but the majority of about 8,500 residents live in the unincorporated areas outside the villages.

“Everyone loves the schools here,” Hartsock, referring to the Wayne Local Schools centered in Waynesville, but serving the bulk of the township.

The new rules require landscaping buffering residential areas from those developed for industrial or commercial uses and within parking lots, as well as specifying signage regulations.

The plan is also designed to aid residential developers.

About 80 percent of the land will be in a residential zone where developments will be permitted with as little as 150 feet of road frontage, 25 less than under the existing code. This is expected to enable 15 percent more development of available land.

“Visually it will be almost imperceptible,” Hartsock said. “We wanted to allow for measured growth while preserving our rural character.”

In January, the process leading to adoption will begin and include review and public hearings at the township and county levels. The Wayne Twp. trustees are expected to approve the changes in February or March.


Wayne Twp. Zoning Change Open House

Wayne Twp. Administrative Center

Wednesday, Dec. 14

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

6050 N. Clarksville Road, Off Ohio 73

For more information, Waynezoningupdate.com

call 513-897-3040 or email

erinhartsock@waynetownship.us

Copies of the proposed changes are available at the village office.

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