Springboro City Council voted 5 - 0 at the July 18 council meeting to enter into a purchase agreement with Easton Farm Partners, LLC for the purchase of 60 +/- acres of land between the proposed commercial area fronting St. Rt. 741 (North Main Street) and the existing homestead of the Easton Farm.
The property was the subject of a lawsuit settled in November 2022, resulting in a court order that set in place a new PUD-MU zoning and general plan, but with no financial damages to City taxpayers.
“When the developers recently reached out to the City with an opportunity to purchase a portion of land at Easton Farm, we inquired about purchasing the entire property,” stated City Manager Chris Pozzuto. “Unfortunately, some sections, like the multi-family portion, were already under sales contracts, so acquiring those parts wasn't possible.”
The frontage of the property will remain developable for commercial uses such as retail, restaurants and service businesses, in addition to the multi-family component. These plans align with the court-ordered zoning requirements.
The land purchase enables the City to decrease the overall development density and reduce the number of previously planned single-family owner-occupied houses by 80 percent. In addition, the City will preserve open space by connecting North Park with Gardner Park to create a buffer zone for the existing neighborhoods. Furthermore, a plan to collaborate with Springboro Schools could offer long-term benefits for the entire Springboro community.
The City and Schools are discussing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that involves a land swap. Approximately 20 acres of the Easton Farm could be exchanged for Springboro Schools’ properties at Jonathan Wright, Clearcreek Elementary and Wade Field. According to the agreement, Springboro Schools would explore the potential to use the 20 acres to build a new school to replace aging facilities.
Specific plans for the land swap are still under development. Pending Springboro Schools’ Board of Education approval, Springboro Schools would hire an architectural firm to assess the 20-acre parcel as well as the outlooks on the district’s current facilities. If the site assessment at Easton Farm is positive, an interagency operating agreement for actual land transfers will be considered by both the district and the City at a later date.
“This land purchase provides a golden opportunity for the City to optimize the development of Easton Farm,” stated Mayor John Agenbroad. “In previous discussions, the community clearly expressed concerns about the density of the proposed housing, the need for more open space and a desire for additional commercial areas. By purchasing this segment of available land between the frontage and the homestead, we can address all these concerns. We are also excited that this land purchase could benefit our schools in numerous ways by providing a site for a new building and potentially alleviating school traffic on the two-lane South Main Street.”
Updates on the project will be available here and social media sites.