People from across the region said the watershed is vital to a diverse variety of plant, animal and insect life and needs to be permanently protected.
The stream is used by thousands of school children every year who study aquatic life, and constructing a large industrial facility on the site could impact the water quality, said Tom Hissong, retired education manager for the Aullwood Audubon Center.
MORE: Dayton prairie targeted for development, upsetting some
The city has proposed selling about 110 acres of the 140-acre property to a developer that has been constructing massive industrial and warehouse facilities around the Dayton International Airport, which are on track to create about 2,200 jobs.
Airport officials said the Federal Aviation Administration does not consider Knoop Prairie to be a compatible use with airport operations, and the airport has an obligation to find the highest and best use for the property.
Officials said they have planted many acres of warm season native grasses around the airport facility and have plans to plant many more acres.
The Dayton airport has to be a self-sufficient operation, and the airport needs to dispose of land not needed for operations at fair-market value at the earliest possible time, said Terry Slaybaugh, Dayton’s aviation director.
But more than 11,600 people have signed a petition to save Knoop Prairie, and there has to be an alternative site suitable for the proposed development, said Alexis Faust, executive director of Aullwood Audubon.
“How many acres of abandoned shopping malls, defunct businesses do we have in our community,” she said at Wednesday night’s packed commission meeting. “Couldn’t we use some of that space before destroying this amazing, living legacy?”
One speaker, Brian Palmer, said his company, Pure Development, owns an 80-acre site around the corner from Knoop Prairie. He said the property is development-ready and offered it as an alternative site.
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Some speakers on Wednesday kept their comments succinct, like Vandalia resident Amy Bethel. Her statement at the podium was, “I oppose the development of Paul Knoop prairie.”
Shenise Turner-Sloss, a city commission candidate, in a brief set of comments, asked the city to reconsider redeveloping the site. Commission candidate David Esrati at the podium said he was glad to see the Aullwood supporters in attendance but the commission only listens when people buy the right to talk.
Some speakers got choked up when discussing the possibility of losing most of Knoop Prairie. They said the prairie is irreplaceable.
Knoop prairie is one of the “outstanding jewels” in the state of Ohio, said Robert Liptak, president of the Ohio Lepidopterists, which promotes education and interest in butterflies, skippers and moths.
“I oppose this development. It’s not good for Dayton. It’s not good for Ohio. And it’s not good for the creatures that have no voice,” he said.
Citizens said the prairie reduces carbon dioxide emissions, which is crucial because of climate change and worsening storms, like the recent catastrophic tornadoes.
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