OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE GOALS

Sugarcreek Township, and the City of Bellbrook, is part of an ongoing ‘change in the landscape’. Due to the close proximity to Dayton, our Township has been experiencing increasing demand for suburban residential development since Kettering, Washington Township and Beavercreek Township have less available land for new construction.

Our Sugarcreek Township Trustees, in response to input on land use, adopted in 2001 the ‘Sugarcreek Township Comprehensive Land Use Plan’.

The plan goals are:

v     Retain rural character of the Township

v     Manage the pace and quality of future development

v     Protect key assets

v     Retain viable agriculture land usage

v     Provide viable and continuing strategy for preserving open space

v     Manage transportation demands and conflicts

v     Provide criteria and guidance for the future infrastructure

v     Provide protection of important environmental resources

v     Plan for recreational areas

v     Protect the geographic integrity

A part of the above plan is the creation of an Open Space Advisory Committee.  This committee has been established and will advise the township Trustees on planning, decision-making and protecting the key ‘Open Space’ assets.

We are evaluating land use opportunities based on the following criteria:

v     Scenic/visual quality

v     Protection of water resources

v     Protection of woods, farmland, endangered plants and animals

v     Protection of ecosystems of educational or scientific value

v     Acquisition of land to preserve the Township planning goals

v     Buffering value

v     Geographic balance

v     Acquisition and maintenance cost

v     Potential to be part of the surrounding communities, county, regional, states.

The committee also makes recommendations on funding for acquisitions, use and maintenance of acquired properties.