Cornerstone — which includes retail, office and residential components — is under development on township land in Greene County that has been annexed to the city of Centerville. Sugarcreek Twp. trustees voted in November 2014 to enact a fire district that would have excluded the Cornerstone development, but rescinded the resolution in February. Township officials, who fought annexation, have said Sugarcreek Twp. is not being adequately compensated by Centerville for providing emergency services to Cornerstone. A meeting between township and city officials is scheduled for July 1.
Oberer filed the lawsuit against Sugarcreek Twp. in U.S. District Court in Dayton in March, saying the township’s threat of excluding Cornerstone from its fire district hampered the developer’s effort to sell parcels and attract retail tenants.
The Dayton region’s first Costco Warehouse has opened in Cornerstone, and two other major anchor retail outlets, Cabela’s and Kroger, have announced plans to build new stores. In recent weeks, Cheddar’s Casual Cafe and Panda Express have announced plans to build locations at Cornerstone, joining Chick-Fil-A, Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern, Great Clips and Wright-Patt Credit Union, which previously announced plans to build there.
Attorneys for the township pointed to the anchor tenants and the groundbreaking on two 10,000-square-foot centers that will hold some of the smaller retailers as evidence the fire and EMS issues have not adversely impacted Cornerstone’s ability to attract tenants.
The township is in the process of holding public meetings seeking input on the future of emergency services. Sugarcreek Twp. Administrator Barry Tiffany has said the township has explored forming a joint fire and EMS district with Bellbrook among several options, including contracting out emergency services.
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