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Centerville seeks to annex 96.5 acres of land

Washington Twp.  leaders plan to challenge Centerville’s petition.

Contributed photo Greg Horn, Centerville City Manager.

Contributed photo Jesse Lightle, Washington Twp. Administrator.

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By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer Updated 9:48 AM Thursday, January 12, 2012

The city of Centerville has filed a petition to annex 96.5 acres of largely undeveloped land northeast of the intersection of Sheehan and Social Row roads despite objections from Washington Twp.

Centerville City Manager Greg Horn said the move would allow for future growth.

“Cities can only grow in two ways: through mergers or annexations,” Horn said. “Council has been very open that when annexation opportunities for future growth exist, they plan to pursue them.”

Annexations do not change who owns a property, merely which jurisdiction governs it.

Washington Twp. Administrator Jesse Lightle said the township was not considering developing the land slated for annexation, which is maintained as green space, but that it has strategic value.

“This positions the city to potentially forge an annexation pathway to (Ohio) 48 to capture future income tax dollars,” said Lightle, noting its proximity to the Austin Pike interchange.

She said the township plans to file an objection to the petition. Petitions have to be approved by the county, and this one likely will be considered next month.

The annexation was made possible by a smaller petition filed last week by the Sarasota, Fla.-based Yankee Development Group. The group of retired doctors, which owns 68 acres of land near Sheehan Road, petitioned for Centerville to annex a strip of its land in Washington Twp. on Sheehan.

“Yankee Development Group has plans to sell their land, and the annexation makes the property more sellable since the developer would just have to work with one (government),” said Mike Garvey, a broker with Midwest Commercial Real Estate, who is representing the group.

“We love Washington Twp., but we have to look at growth,” Garvey said.

That strip allows the city to meet an Ohio Revised Code requirement that at least 5 percent of the annexed property’s perimeter be contiguous to the city.

The type of annexation Centerville requested does not require the approval of the three public entities that own portions of that 96.5 acres: Washington Twp., Centerville City Schools and Montgomery County.

The lone private property owner, Yankee Development Group, signed off on the petition.

Centerville City Manager Greg Horn said there were “no special deals” offered to the group regarding either annexation, but that the city did help facilitate that group’s request.

“Obviously we are involved,” said Horn, adding that Centerville Economic Development Director Nathan Cahall was the agent on the group’s petition. “Dealing with a landowner whose principals live out of state, it is as much for convenience as anything.”

Garvey, a Washington Twp. resident, said that no incentives were offered.

“There were no special deals, but it’s a relationship where we both benefit,” he said.

Washington Twp. Trustee President Scott Paulson said the potential annexation is the latest in a series of initiatives in which “the city has pursued its own interests without much consideration for other public bodies.”

He cited Centerville’s recent filing for tax increment financing (TIF) and a request made in 2011 to reassign about $460,000 in inside millage paid annually by city residents to the township. The latter request was denied by Montgomery County in December.

The TIF will divert additional property taxes gained from the future growth at Miami Valley Hospital South from local levies to pay for infrastructure around the MVHS development for up to 30 years.

Centerville City Schools, which owns about 30 of the 96.5 acres, would not be affected financially by the annexation.

“Because we already operate in both (the city and township), it’s not going to be critical for us,” said Bob Yux, assistant superintendent, adding that there are plans to build a school on that land in the future.

“From a business standpoint, we have a pretty good relationship with both groups,” he said.

He said the Centerville City Schools Transportation Center, which is located on the land, would be largely unaffected.

Horn said annexations are part of the natural evolution of a city.

“Miami Valley Hospital South would not be in the city today if it were not for the council’s annexations. The same is true of Bethany Village, St. Leonard, Yankee Trace,” he said.

“If not for annexation, we’d be a spot on the map at (Ohio) 48 and Franklin (Street).”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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