More than 95 percent of those who donated money to support a petition drive seeking to overturn a city council rezoning decision on the Nov. 6 ballot in the city of Centerville reside in Washington Twp.

On July 17, Centerville City Council voted 5 to 2 to rezone 64 acres north of Social Row Road between Sheehan and Paragon roads, where a mixed-use development has been proposed. The parcel was previously previously classified residential with a limit of two units per acre. If approved, the referendum will put the rezoning up to a citywide vote.

Centerville City Council member Paul Gresham, MD, said that while a total of $6,158 was contributed for the petition drive, which seeks to overturn a recent rezoning decision, “it’s interesting that only 4.5 percent of it ($275) was donated by residents of the city. The remainder came from township residents.”

Donations by those who live outside the city are legal, “but I think those who live in Centerville and pay their taxes to the city would be interested in knowing who is financing the referendum in Centerville,” Gresham said.

The drive was organized by a group called Social Row CPR, whose website states: “We are a group of citizens that are proud to call Centerville/Washington Township our home.” Its mission is “to keep the area around hour homes from going commercial.”

Centerville resident and Social Row CPR leader Scott Colwell expressed surprise “that Centerville would make note” of the contributions from township residents. “City Council members had to know their decision affected Centerville citizens as well as Washington Twp. citizens. Township residents were not permitted to sign the petition, but asked, ‘How can we help?’ “

Colwell said they helped by making donations and serving as volunteers to circulate the petitions. “We received tremendous support from both the Centerville and Washington Twp. communities.”

Colwell said more than 2,000 signatures were collected. City officials will review the petitions and then forward them to the Montgomery County Board of Elections for validation.

Contributions for the petition drive ranged from $75 to $558. Seven were for at least $500.