Although the immediate area around Interstate 75’s exit between Troy and Piqua is undeveloped, that may not always be the case.
To plan for possible change, Miami County is taking a closer look at possibilities for development.
More than 50 people participated Oct. 23 in a community meeting seeking input on the future of the corridor between Troy and Piqua and the Exit 78 interchange. The study is being conducted for the county Department of Development by Burton Planning Services.
Meeting participants included several owners of farms and businesses in or near the study area that extends east to the Great Miami River, west to Washington Road, north to Piqua and south to just outside of Troy.
The study area covers some 3,000 acres, is mostly undeveloped and 82 percent agricultural, consultant Kim Littleton said.
Participants were divided into groups to review the area map and identify good and bad aspects of the area. For example, groups identified existing farmland and the historic Eldean Covered Bridge as positives for the corridor
Information collected from participants will be incorporated with other input in the development of an analysis and recommendations, Littleton said that effort could be the topic of another community meeting later this year or in early 2018.
A project steering committee met before the community meeting to help draft preliminary goals. Among those goals:
• Economy: Create a center for employment with a diverse economic base, and build on the access and visibility afforded by the County Road 25A/I-75 interchange.
• Housing: Provide a range of housing choices with convenient access to daily services.
• Mobility: Develop a multi-modal and interconnected transportation network that safely and conveniently transports people and freight.
• Infrastructure: Coordinate the extension of, or increase the capacity of, infrastructure facilities to meet the future needs of existing and planned development.
• Zoning: Create easy to understand, consistent and flexible regulations to encourage and enable high-quality development
• Health: Promote an active and healthy lifestyle for residents, works and visitors.
• Environment: Connect and integrate the areas’ natural feature to future development.
• Resiliency: Encourage resilient development practices that can adapt to changes over time and remain viable and an asset for the community.
More information on the project is available at burtonplanning.com/plancr25a.
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