Roshon Estates Planned Unit Development

Wednesday, January 26 2011 00:00

In May 2003 residents of Liberty Township were confronted with a proposed amendment to the township’s zoning resolution (zoning code) that would change the zoning of 100 acres of land on Heimberger Lane from RR (rural residential) to PUD ( planned unit development) and would bring an additional 137 new homes into the community.

This land use change was opposed by a majority of Liberty Township’s residents who turned out in force at zoning commission and trustee public meetings on this proposal to express their objections to a high density development. To their dismay those residents learned that the township leaders would ignore the wishes of the community and voted in favor of the zoning change.

On behalf of Liberty Township, ORRD appealed the zoning change approval, received a favorable ruling at the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, but was reversed on appeal. However, as a result of the lengthy court proceedings the Roshon Estates development was delayed. By the time the appeals court rendered its decision, the housing market soured and the principals in the venture lost interest in the project. The land presently retains its planned unit development classification.

The legacy of the Roshon development is one of a failure by its principals and township officials at the time to work positively with citizens of Liberty Township. Rather than listen to and consider more workable alternatives to the overly dense plan, alternatives which would have resulted in a better value for the community at an equal or greater profit to the property owners, township leaders ignored their constituents and pushed the undesirable project. This triggered a long legal battle and in the end there were no winners. The property owners were unable to sell their land when the project could have been realized with completed homes and at a profit. While the land is zoned for a planned unit development, it is being used for agricultural purposes.

The concerns about the project expressed by Liberty Township’s residents were subsequently validated by what happened to the many other areas of Central Ohio adversely impacted by the dramatic downturn in the residential market. For more reading on this, see the link to What’s Your Home Worth.

Additional information: