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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 741 in the first half of this 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 School officials said they are interested in exploring options for a school.

“Discussions are still in very early stages, and no formal decisions or agreements have been made,” said Bryce Blanton, the district’s communications coordinator.

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

Housing near high school

The planning commission on Wednesday also approved a minor revision to the Northampton subdivision underway at 1525 S. Main St. (Ohio 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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