Little Miami Scenic River vs. Exurban Sprawl

A "planned community" of 2400 homes threatens the Little Miami River of Ohio, even though it is federally-protected.

But we have until next Thursday to make our voices heard by contacting the Warren County Commission - let them know how important it is to preserve one of Ohio's few remaining wild places.

County commissioners will soon consider approval of rezoning sought by the developers of San Mar Gale, a planned community to be built over the next 30 years on 3,239 acres east of Lebanon owned by the family of the late industrialist and farmer Ralph J. Stolle.

On Tuesday, Gable and the state program's regional manager alerted commissioners that Hines-Griffin Land Development Co.'s plans apparently fail to adequately protect the Little Miami and its tributaries.

Gable's program has approval authority on public projects, but no legal power on private projects, within 1,000 feet of the state's scenic rivers. Warren County's Little Miami corridor plan, approved in 1979, recommends protections like those sought by the state. Only a few Ohio counties and communities have included river protections in local zoning codes.

...The commissioners will resume a hearing, begun in December, at 6 p.m. Jan. 26 on rezoning sought by Hines-Griffin. The county could push for the Little Miami protections as conditions included in the planned unit development or during later site review hearings.

Wildlands and rivers need to be protected against development - they cannot be replaces once they are gone. This point needs to be impressed upon the city planners - please help to do so!

[UPDATE from 1/19] We have a temporary reprieve. The next meeting will be on Feb. 23rd. Residents of Warren County - call, call, call! The link above has tons of resources and info.



Tags: Little Miami River, San Mar Gale, environment, conservation, Ohio