Springboro planners approve creation of 6 lots on giant Easton Farm property

The city of Springboro plans to buy 60 acres of the 103-acre Easton Farm property at 605 N. Main St. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

Credit: Jim Noelker

Credit: Jim Noelker

The city of Springboro plans to buy 60 acres of the 103-acre Easton Farm property at 605 N. Main St. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

Springboro Planning Commission approved a plan Wednesday that creates six lots on the 103-acre Easton Farm off state Route 741.

The largest lot on the property at 605 N. Main St. is 60 acres, which will be purchased by the city for a new park and possibly a new school.

Springboro City Council will vote on the plan at its Jan. 16 meeting.

Development of the Easton site has been debated for years, with various proposals dating back to 2008.

After disagreement between developers and Springboro City Council, a 2022 court settlement was reached to allow housing, retail and commercial development on the part of the land along state Route 741, separate from the acreage the city is buying.

The closing date on the land sale is on or before Feb. 28 with a purchase price of $7 million. The city will issue $7 million in bonds to fund the purchase.

Springboro is purchasing 60 acres at 605 N. Main St., also known as Ohio 741. STAFF

Credit: STAFF

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Credit: STAFF

The development was to have 252 apartments and 54 townhomes, but now around 35 more townhomes are planned, said Lori Steiner, president of developer Easton Farm Partners.

Steiner said construction is expected to begin for the portion along state Route 741 in the first half of the year.

The city has been in talks with Springboro City Schools about a deal that would involve about one third of the 60 acres. The city/schools agreement would involve a land swap, and Springboro education officials have said they are interested in a new school at that site.

However, Dan Boron said the land swap and school is not definite. The Dayton Daily News is awaiting a response from the school district on whether it remains interested in the Easton Farm property.

The 13-acre Hall homestead at the back of the property will remain.

The planning commission on Wednesday also approved a minor revision to the Northampton subdivision underway at 1525 S. Main St. (state Route 741) to allow nine new models in the second phase. The new neighborhood is just north of the junior high and high school buildings and near the Heatherwoode Golf Club.

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