ASHLAND — An Ashland City Council special meeting scheduled for Thursday has been canceled, according to the mayor.
The special meeting, scheduled for 4 p.m., was called in order for council to discuss the annexation of 120-acres in Montgomery Township. The land, a former farm, is being considered for a potential subdivision of hundreds of homes.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said he and other officials, developers and land owners are “still working on some of the details of what is the best approach for the annexation.”
Miller said the approach — a special, expedited “type 2” annexation — will likely change to what the mayor characterizes as “more traditional” for annexations in Ashland.
The type 2 annexation, according to state law, would allow property taxes to keep benefitting the township.
“We are trying to figure out if this is the best approach to use,” Miller said. “So after discussing the details with everyone involved, we’re of the opinion there might be a better way to approach it for everyone involved.”
He said the annexation approach, which was requested by Scott Conery and another developer, has never been done in Ashland before.
“I’m expecting (the annexation) to be more traditional,” Miller said, adding it would most likely follow the same process behind the recent annexation of 91 acres near U.S. Route 250. In that agreement, the city and township agreed to a revenue sharing deal.
The agreement states the township will receive 50% “of the real estate taxes, levied and collected upon the property within the described area, for a period of 50 years.”
After 50 years, the city would receive 100% of the real estate tax revenue, the agreement reads. The township would also continue to receive 100% of its lodging taxes in perpetuity should any hotels or other lodging accommodations be built on the annexed land.
Montgomery Township’s bed tax rate is 3%.
Montgomery Township Trustee Steve Uhler has expressed opposition to the annexation and said the township will author a formal letter expressing its perspective in the near future.
Where is this annexation?
The land, a former farm owned by Carl Becker, is situated on the south side of U.S. Route 42 between County Road 995 and Mifflin Avenue.
The land up for annexation to the city of Ashland from Montgomery Township is highlighted in yellow. Credit: Ashland County GIS 
A former Montgomery Township farm along County Road 995 is facing an annexation petition. Credit: Dillon Carr 
A former Montgomery Township farm along County Road 995 is facing an annexation petition. Credit: Dillon Carr
County real estate records show the property has been owned by Becker Estate LLC since Feb. 9, 2024. State business records show the LLC is owned by Carl Becker, the former owner of the 120 acres that is now being petitioned for annexation.
Conery, a local investor behind numerous businesses in Ashland, signed the petition on March 3. It is unclear the extent of Conery’s involvement beyond signing the annexation petition.