ASHLAND — The city agreed Tuesday to maintain a section of South Baney Road should the farmland just west of it becomes part of the city in yet another annexation.
The legislation, passed unanimously, takes effect upon annexation of 67.5 acres of farmland in Milton Township.
The property owner, Ashway LLC, hopes to put a housing development on the farmland, said Ashland Mayor Matt Miller. He did not offer additional details about plans there and efforts to reach the developer were unsuccessful before publication.
Nevertheless, the city agreed to general and winter-related maintenance on South Baney Road between County Roads 1356 and 1426, a length of 2,214 feet.
Andrew Bush, the city’s assistant law director, said Wednesday the maintenance agreement is necessary because the annexation would create a divided roadway. South Baney Road, or County Road 1153, delineates the city’s boundary with Milton Township.
“The county commissioners cannot agree to the annexation unless there’s an agreement in place already. So that’s why you do this first,” Bush said.
The housing development, Miller said, is planned on farmland located to the west of South Baney Road. County real estate records state the parcel is 67.53 acres. The majority of the acreage there, 64.9, are tillable, records show. The property also houses a cell tower.
Ashway bought the property from Rex Biederman in 2009 for $338,000.
The annexation is still in its early phases, Miller said.
Neither the city nor the county have a petition for annexation, officials from each have said.
Milton Township trustees haven’t seen a formal petition for annexation, either. Trustee Eric Fulk said he is familiar with the project and the developer.
“But that was six or eight months ago we talked,” he said.
Fulk expressed concern about the annexation and its ramifications for the houses that surround the proposed development.
Next steps?
Bush said the next step in this process involves the property owner submitting a petition to the Ashland County Board of Commissioners.
The petition submittal will then trigger notices to property owners in the proposed area, the city, township and adjoining owners. Commissioners will then host a public hearing on the matter.
Following the hearing, commissioners have 30 days to either approve or deny the annexation petition, Bush said.