ASHLAND — A 67-acre property annexed to Ashland in 2025 may become the site of a future housing development.
In September 2025, Ashland City Council approved the annexation of the nearly 70 acres of Milton Township farmland along Baney Road — owned by Ashway LLC.
The property owner would like to pursue a housing development in that area, Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said Tuesday.
City Council was tasked with determining the zoning designation for the 67-acre property.
The recommendation from the city’s planning commission was to zone the property as RL-2 — a recommendation ultimately honored by council on Tuesday. The RL-2 designation will allow for single-family dwellings, duplexes and three-family dwellings (or triplexes) to be constructed on the property.
Ashland lawmakers in December 2025 approved an update to the city’s residential zoning code, which added triplexes to the type of dwellings covered under RL-2 zones. The only zoning code that previously allowed three-family dwellings was RL-3, which also allows apartments.
Miller said in 2025 that the zoning code update reflects the city’s desire to be good neighbors.
“This will protect the integrity of the homes that are already out there. We don’t think the property is appropriate for apartments,” he previously said of the 67-acre lot.
A potential housing development on the property is currently “on hold” until a project cost analysis is completed, the mayor said Tuesday.
“They (property owner) are revisiting the cost of doing a project of this size and scope,” he said.
The annexation, approved in 2025, includes an agreement between Ashland and Milton Township that involves maintenance of a section of South Baney Road and a revenue sharing agreement, according to previous Ashland Source reporting.
The deal requires the city to pay an annual $3,000 to Milton Township for the next 25 years. It also allows the city to offer tax abatements to attract developers.
2026 street resurfacing project
In other action Tuesday, Ashland lawmakers authorized the mayor to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the 2026 street resurfacing project.
Larry Paxton, the city’s finance director, estimates Ashland will have $2.5 million available to spend on the project, Miller said.
The list of streets and alleys to be resurfaced this summer is not yet finalized, but the mayor said the goal is to put new pavement down on at least 85 streets around Ashland.
Summer paving work will also include alleys.
“We are going to make a concerted effort to address alleys. Alleys are something we’ve tried so hard to do on our own, but in so many instances we just can’t get to all of them or we don’t have the right sized equipment,” Miller said. “But we’re shooting to do (pave) 30-plus alleys this summer.”