Records show Centerville interest in annexing development property, but something changed

While final approval is still in question on a planned subdivision by Oberer Land Developers, LTD in Sugarcreek Twp., documents show the city of Centerville was interested in annexing the property prior to an agreement between the township and the property owner that would prevent annexation, at least temporarily.

The Dayton Daily News obtained public records from the city of Centerville and Sugarcreek Twp. that reveal how the two governmental bodies were competing for the same boon in potential tax revenue.

In 2014, the township struck a deal with Peter Rammel, who owns the 85-plus acres along Wilmington-Dayton Road where Oberer has plans to build nearly 100 patio-style homes.

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The agreement says Rammel agrees “not to seek and to oppose any annexation of any portion of the properties … comprising of approximately 107.383 acres.”

As part of the deal, Sugarcreek Twp. agrees not to impose tax increment financing legislation on the same property,” according to township records.

“The agreement is binding on the owner, their successors and assigns so it transfers with the property through the term of the agreement,” said Barry Tiffany, a Sugarcreek Twp. administrator.

That means no annexation of the Rammel property is possible, no matter who the owner is, until after the agreement ends in July 2024.

Annexations are an option for property owners in Ohio and are often considered when townships deny rezoning requests from developers who have entered purchase agreements with the owners.

In an Oct. 10 story, the Dayton Daily News reported about communications between the city of Beavercreek and the owner of the Ralph D. Black property in Sugarcreek Twp., where HPA Development Inc. has plans to build homes.

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A week after the story published, the city of Centerville provided drafts from 2013 of two letters that surfaced in their searches — both written to Rammel from then Centerville’s Economic Development Administrator Nathan E. Cahall.

The city could not confirm whether the letters were ever sent to Rammel, but Cahall refers to prior communications in the letters.

According to a letter composed in May 2013 partly titled “Annexation of Parcels,” Cahall states “I have found a residential developer that is strongly interested in purchasing your properties north of Centerville Road, along Wilmington-Dayton Road.” Cahall also refers to proposed legislation at the state level that “would no longer allow your land to be annexed into Centerville without the consent of all government property owners whose land may also need to be annexed.”

“I am more than happy to meet with you at your convenience and also facilitate any desired meetings with the interested housing developer,” Cahall’s letter reads.

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The Greene County Regional Planning Commission Executive Committee is expected to review Oberer’s proposal at their Nov. 20 meeting, with a vote possible by the full commission at their Nov. 27 meeting.

The township’s zoning commission is expected to consider the proposal at their meeting Dec. 4. A large crowd is expected to attend, and the location of that meeting has been changed from the township’s administrative offices to Bellbrook Middle School.

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