On April 15 the council was scheduled to consider a plan for the day-care center, valued at $2 million by the developers, and rezoning that would allow for four other businesses on the property adjoining the Woodland Greens subdivision.
After two years and “about nine” tries, the Springboro Planning Commission on April 7 deadlocked on a general plan for the first phase of the project, which was opposed by neighbors, in part because it lacked buffering from their properties. The 3-3 vote, with Commissioner Chris Pappakirk abstaining, sent the plan to council with a recommendation against approval. Pappakirk abstained because he and family members owned the land until about six years ago, Law Director Alan Schaeffer said.
The commission split on the vote after Shafer and Patrick Fenton, owner of a Michigan-based day-care company, rejected changes suggested by commissioners.
“We look forward to working cooperatively with (the) staff, planning commission, and the City Council,” Shafer said in the withdrawal letter.
“We are back at square one,” said David Vomacka, 1st Ward councilman and one of the planning commissioners who voted against the plan.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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