XENIA — City council recently approved a planned unit development concept plan for the Highland Greene Subdivision.
The proposed 187.836-acre subdivision is a 433-unit, master-planned residential community located in northeastern Xenia. According to city records, the planned development will contain a variety of housing types, a community clubhouse with recreational amenities, and more than 100 acres of public/private open space.
The subdivision will have frontage on U.S. Route 42 and Stevenson Road (which also forms part of the city’s eastern boundary).
“We are excited to bring a new addition to our city — the largest new planned unit development in the city in the last 30 years,” said Council President Will Urschel. “It is also very well-placed on the northwest side of the city as we anticipate a tremendous need for new housing to support the 2,300 new jobs coming to the Honda battery plant.”
Prior to the unanimous vote, four residents spoke during a public hearing.
Todd Irvin told council that Highland Greene would not only ruin the great view he has from across the proposed PUD, but traffic issues have become an issue.
“There have been speeds of 100 regularly and drag racing — it’s horribly dangerous,” he said. “You’re saying 400 homes are going in with two cars per house. That’s a lot of traffic.”
Yvette Williams spoke about the proposed addition of a public park amidst a private community.
“If it’s not serving the community, then it’s taking away from the community,” she said.
John Grayson was concerned with on-street parking or driveway/garage parking of vehicles.
The fourth speaker, Jerry Mahan, spoke about the quality of the soil in the proposed subdivision build. Mahan, a conservationist and former employee of the OSU Greene County Extension, was concerned that the quality of the top soil could be jeopardized during the build.
“Forty percent of our farmland in Greene County is rented,” Mahan said. “Greene County has lost hundreds of acres to development. If it is drained appropriately, it becomes prime farm land. Farmers want the opportunity to farm this land.”
According to city records, it is the intent of the developer to create a unified, high quality, mixed-residential development that will serve needs of a variety of housing types and lifestyles within the city of Xenia. Highland Greene has been designed to encourage walkability.
The plans show the road network is designed around gently curving roads with houses arranged on relatively short blocks which connect to the main collectors. All roads will have sidewalks or trails to encourage pedestrian mobility and reduce car trips.
“If they upgrade the roads at the intersection of Stevenson Road and U.S. Rt. 42 North, it will need a traffic study for the 433-unit homes going in,” said Councilman Thomas Scrivens, who added that it was only the preliminary concept plan that had been approved at the Sept. 14 meeting.
Reach Karen Rase at 937 502-4534.
