MOUNT VERNON — With Thursday’s 12-to-4 vote, the Regional Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat for the Mount Olive Farms subdivision in Hilliar Township.
RPC voted down 10 to 5 a request by the Hilliar Township trustees to table the approval until zoning issues are resolved.
The subdivision is located on the southeast corner of Ohio 314 (Johnsville Road) and Updike Road. Owners Todd and Sondra Swetland want to develop 85.4 acres into 12 parcels ranging from 5.6 acres to 12.32 acres.
Hilliar Township Trustee Jason Rogers said that under township zoning, any subdivision is considered to be a PUD (Planned Unit Development) unless the developer shows otherwise. Swetland has not been to any township meetings nor presented any such documentation.
Additionally, Rogers said that the driveways as platted go against township zoning, even though the driveways were determined by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
RPC member Doug McLarnan, College Township, said the project is more of a lot split than a typical PUD development with roads, mixed type of dwellings, and parks. Because the split involves more than five lots, however, it qualifies as a major subdivision.
Darrel Severns, RPC secretary, said the RPC is the approving authority for major subdivisions. Township zoning will still be in effect for structures, setbacks, and other similar issues.
He also said that ODOT has jurisdiction on driveways on state routes.
RPC members approved the preliminary plat with the proviso that the developer petition the county commissioners for maintenance of the stormwater infrastructure to be installed as part of the development. This has to be done before approval of the final plat and the sale of any lots.
A 12-inch pipe installed north to south along the rear lot lines of the 5-acre parcels fronting on Ohio 314 will handle the stormwater runoff for the subdivision. The pipe will end at the bike path at the southern end of the subdivision.
Water will then enter the existing drain pipe going underneath the bike path, a point of concern for Centerburg officials. Greg Myers, the village’s representative to RPC, said the drainage area floods, and the pipe gets clogged with debris.
“It does not work. It’s not adequate numerous times of the year. It’s a major problem,” he said, adding that the backup causes flooding for property owners down the line.
Rob Clendenning, Knox Soil and Water Conservation District, said the problem isn’t so much an inadequately-sized pipe.
“The issue really occurs on the south side after it passes under the railroad bed,” he said. “The stormwater structure on the south side behind the nursing home and that area really isn’t adequate. The water doesn’t have a good place to go except through the back yard of the nursing home.”
In response to Myers’ concern that the subdivision will add more water to an area already having problems, Clendenning said stormwater calculations “don’t prove it out.”
The county maintains other ditches and drainage paths throughout the county, including several in Hilliar township. If the developer petitions and the county agrees to maintain the Mount Olive Farms drain pipe, the county will do annual inspections and handle maintenance and repairs as needed.
Property owners in the subdivision will pay an assessment fee to cover the county’s cost to maintain the pipe. The county’s responsibility will end at the end of the 12-inch drain tile unless additional property owners opt to join the petition.
The developer has one year to install the drainage pipe. After it is installed, the county engineer will inspect the site and develop a maintenance schedule. The county commissioners will hold a public hearing on agreeing to maintain the pipe.
Once this process is completed, RPC will vote on approving a final plat. If approved, the developer can then sell the lots.
