WestChesterBuzz.com

The West Chester Township Land Use Planning Committee and the West Chester Township Zoning Commission will host a joint meeting on March 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to accept public comment on proposed updates to the West Chester Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

The regularly scheduled Zoning Commission meeting will follow, starting at 6:30 p.m. The zoning meeting could attract a crowd, as it currently has a proposed shopping center, which would be near a residential area, on its agenda.

The shopping center, Crossings of Beckett, would be anchored by a Kroger Marketplace and be located near the intersection of Tylersville and 747. WestChesterBuzz.com will have more on the development before and after the meeting on March 18.

Residents, concerned about the Land Use Plan, can see the revisions at www.WestChesterOH.org and at the West Chester Township Community Development Department, 9577 Beckett Road, Suite 100, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

When recommending its changes, The Land Use Planning Committee takes into consideration each corridor, current land use designations, road projects and changes in terms of development since the previous document was adopted, according to Barbara Wilson, public information officer for West Chester Township.

The Land Use Planning Committee is a seven-member volunteer board composed of West Chester residents appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Committee ultimately takes the proposed Land Use Plan to the West Chester Board of Trustees for adoption.

The last Land Use Plan was last updated in 2004.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Barb Wilson, Barbara Wilson, revisions to West Chester's Land Use Plan, West Chester Zoning Commission, West Chester's Land Use Plan, West Chester’s Land Use Planning Committee, zoning commission

West Chester’s Land Use Planning Committee has been working since May 2011 to update the community’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which was last updated in 2004.

The Land Use Planning Committee is a seven-member volunteer board composed of West Chester residents appointed by the Board of Trustees.

During updates to the plan, the committee meets regularly to approve new language, confers with interested property owners to consider their views and holds public forums to obtain resident feedback. The Committee ultimately takes the proposed Land Use Plan to the West Chester Board of Trustees for adoption.

According to Barbara Wilson, public information officer for West Chester Township, current revisions being considered reflect changes in demographic information, new developments that have occurred since 2004 including park development, and road improvements occurring since 2004 including U.S. Route 42 and Liberty Way.

A complete copy of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan with proposed revisions is available at www.WestChesterOH.org. Feedback on the proposed revisions will be accepted in writing until May 14. Comments can be made through email at landuseplan@westchesteroh.org.

A joint public hearing of the Land Use Planning Committee and the Zoning Commission will take place Monday, March 18th at West Chester Township Hall. The purpose of the public hearing will be to present proposed revision, receive public comment and hear discussion from the commission and committee members.

Another public hearing will be scheduled for the Land Use Planning Committee offering further opportunity for public comment. This hearing is tentatively scheduled Tuesday, April 15.

The West Chester Board of Trustees will also have a public hearing on the revisions on May 14, prior to Board action scheduled for May 28. Revisions to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan require Board of Trustee approval.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Barb Wilson, Barbara Wilson, revisions to West Chester's Land Use Plan, West Chester Zoning Commission, West Chester's Land Use Plan, West Chester’s Land Use Planning Committee, zoning commission

Some of the Lady Liberty mascots pose in front of the West Chester location. Photo provided.

Sheila McLaughlin reports:

The fight to put Lady Liberty back out on a busy street corner in West Chester Township next tax season isn’t over.

The 12th District Court of Appeals has ruled against Liberty Tax Service’s “waver,” saying West Chester gave the company a fair shake in hearings to decide whether the mascot was allowed under the township’s sign code.

Appeals judges sent the case back to Butler County Common Pleas Court to decide whether the waver dressed like the Statue of Liberty constituted protected speech.

On Tuesday, the company’s lawyer asked the appeals court to take another look at the case before the constitutionality question is broached.

“We think they are simply wrong on the law, with all due respect,” said Anthony Covatta, who represents Liberty Tax franchisees Kyle and Lorraine Garth.

The gist of the court filing is that the 12th District should have decided whether the West Chester Board of Zoning Appeals even had authority to rule on a sign variance for the Liberty Tax Service mascot before deciding if the township’s zoning process was properly applied.

Covatta maintains that the waver was not a sign as defined by the township zoning code, so the zoning appeals board didn’t have any authority to decide the case. Last week’s decision also conflicts with a decision in the Sixth District Court of Appeals in Toledo, Covatta contends.

The sign battle between the Garths and West Chester began in late 2009, soon after the Garths opened their Liberty Tax Service franchise in a strip center at the southwest corner of Tylersville and Cox roads.

The Garths say their costumed waver isn’t a sign and that West Chester’s sign regulations violated his right to commercial free speech. The wavers are considered Liberty Tax’s primary marketing tool.

West Chester officials say costumed characters as advertising are banned by the zoning code.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Barb Wilson, Barbara Wilson, Kyle Garth, Lady Liberty mascot, Liberty Tax mascot, Liberty Tax Service, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester jobs

A Liberty Tax Service mascot is a familiar sight around town. This one is outside a location in Erlanger, Ky. Photo provided.

Sheila McLaughlin reports:

Is the Lady Liberty mascot that waves customers into Liberty Tax Service considered a sign?

The township thinks it is. The business’ owner says that’s bunk. And a man familiar with signage issues nationwide says he has never heard of such a dispute.

Wade Swormstedt of Kenwood, publisher/editor of Signs of the Times magazine for the on-premise sign industry, said, “I don’t really know of a legal precedent one way or another on that – anywhere.” But, Swormstedt said, the situation seems to indicate continued resistance to unconventional signage, bucking a national trend toward relaxing signage restrictions.

“With the economy doing so poorly, the signs make a difference,” he said, by boosting business and bringing in more tax revenue.

The Lady Liberty battle began almost three years ago. In 2010, the tax service received a $500 ticket for violating township sign regulations. Now the case is at Ohio’s 12th District Court of Appeals in Middletown, which could take weeks to release a decision that could be precedent-setting for an eight-county area including all except Hamilton County.

Co-owner of the Liberty franchise in West Chester, Kyle Garth, says the township’s sign restrictions violate his right to commercial free speech. Liberty’s locations in other Southwest Ohio communities aren’t facing problems because of their costumed “wavers,” he said. “This is our No. 1 marketing tool. It’s really, honestly killing my business. I should be double where I’m at right now,” Garth said about the township’s decision to keep the “wavers” off the congested roadside.

Garth and his wife, Lorriane, who live in nearby Mason, opened the franchise in late 2009 in a strip center at the southwest corner of Tylersville and Cox roads. Liberty Tax Service has 4,000 offices in the United States and Canada; it’s the nation’s second-largest tax preparer, behind H & R Block.

West Chester is the Garths’ sole location. Other franchisees run several offices. “This has been going on since the first or second week we were in business in West Chester Township. They told me flat out it is ‘dirtying up our community,’” Garth said. “We don’t have this problem in any other part of the state. Nowhere.”

“Wavers” dressed like the Statue of Liberty are part of Liberty Tax Service’s branding, Garth said. If he could, he would hire three to five mascots who would be paid $8 an hour and would receive a bonus depending on what kind of a show they put on for traffic. (more…)

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Barb Wilson, Barbara Wilson, Kyle Garth, Lady Liberty mascot, Liberty Tax mascot, Liberty Tax Service

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Janice Morse reports:

Two people who were killed in a strange crash Saturday have been identified – and both tested positive for alcohol, though authorities don’t yet know the blood-alcohol levels of the two men, police Sgt. Matt Tombragel said Monday.

The driver of the blue 2000 Honda Civic was German Francisco Mejia-Rodriguez, 22, who lived near the crash site, so police believe he may have been headed homeward at the time of the wreck. His passenger was Jorge Rosalio Rodriguez Lopez, 32, of Springdale.

The men are believed to have died from blunt-impact injuries and may have been dead for more than four hours by the time the wreckage was discovered after 9 a.m. Saturday, Tombragel said, based on information from the Butler County Coroner’s Office.

Speed is also believed to be a factor, although investigators haven’t finished calculating how fast the vehicle was traveling, Tombragel said.

So far, here’s what investigators have pieced together about the crash: The Honda veered off the road, went through a parking lot, hit two trees, and went airborne. The car landed and went under a tractor-trailer, shearing off the car’s top. The car then wedged under a second tractor-trailer.

A passing motorist called police to report the wreckage shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday at 9842 International Blvd. That’s a somewhat isolated area, so it’s not surprising that the crash went unnoticed for some time, Tombragel said.

The incident remains under investigation.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Barbara Wilson, fatal crash West Chester, German Francisco Mejia-Rodriguez, West Chester accident, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday morning. (Stories are listed in order of date)

Lakota preschool program could be merged: During last Monday’s school board meeting, Lakota officials discussed merging its preschool program with county programs. The proposed joint venture with Butler County Educational Service Center (ESC) would save about $1.2 million of the target $9 million in savings Lakota officials have said is needed for next school year. The merger would affect 288 preschool students and would eliminate 17 classroom jobs for the 2012-2013 school year.

AK Steel executive to retire: Last Monday, West Chester based AK Steel announced that its long-time spokesman Alan H. McCoy, vice president, government and public relations, has elected to retire effective January 31. McCoy was named general manager, public relations for AK Steel in 1994. He is currently a director of the Ohio Steel Council and also serves as a trustee of Ursuline Academy.

West Chester’s IKEA activates solar energy system: The IKEA in West Chester is now powering its lights, operating its cash registers and cooking its Swedish meatballs using a solar energy system that is located on the store’s rooftop. Heather Spatz, West Chester’s IKEA store manager, officially announced the activation of the solar energy system last Tuesday. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of clean electricity produced by 4,186 solar panels atop the IKEA building is equivalent to eliminating the yearly emissions of 180 passenger cars.

Road projects to affect Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Ohio 129 and U.S. 42: Last Tuesday, The Butler County Engineer’s Office announced that it is planning to improve Cincinnati-Dayton Road at the Ohio 129 interchange in Liberty Township. The project, which is slated for construction in 2014, is currently in the preliminary engineering phase with environmental studies and early design plans under way. The $2.5 million project is geared to improving traffic safety and flow in the area. Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Transportation announced last Tuesday that culvert replacement will require closing U.S. 42 between Cox Road and Tylersville Road from Feb. 18 to March 2.

Lakota West falls to Fairfield in battle for 2nd in GMC: After handing Middletown its first conference loss Jan. 20, Lakota West hosted Fairfield last Tuesday in a basketball game between two programs tied for second place in the Greater Miami Conference. The Firebirds jumped out to an early lead, but fell behind and eventually lost 70-59. Lakota West did rebound with a win last Friday when it defeated Colerain by the score 77-71 in overtime. The Firebirds are currently in a three-way tie for third in the GMC.

West Chester cop David Busemeyer pleads guilty to felonies, quits job: A police officer pleaded guilty to two felony charges, then resigned from his job last Wednesday. David Busemeyer, who was accused of alerting a drug dealer to an undercover bust, admitted to attempted tampering with evidence and obstructing official business. In exchange for his plea in Butler County Common Pleas Court, a charge of obstructing justice was dismissed. Busemeyer also was accused of revealing the identity of a confidential informant in the case. After the plea, Busemeyer tendered his resignation from the job he had held since August 2002. He faces a maximum prison term of two and a half years, but could be granted probation at sentencing March 8.

Two killed in West Chester crash: Police found two people dead Saturday morning in a car that crashed into two parked semi tractor-trailers at a distribution warehouse at 9842 International Blvd. Police determined that the victims were traveling northbound on International Boulevard in a Honda Civic when it veered off the road, passed through a parking lot, hit two trees, encountered a berm and became airborne. When the car landed, it went under one tractor-trailer, sheering off the car’s top. The car then became wedged under a second tractor-trailer. The names of the victims have not been released.

Posted in: Board of Education, Crime, Levy news, News, Schools, Sports, Traffic, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: AK Steel, AK Steel West Chester, Alan H. McCoy, Alan McCoy, Barbara Wilson, Butler County Engineer’s Office, Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Cincinnati-Dayton Road Liberty Township, Cox Road, Cox Road West Chester, David Busemeyer, IKEA, IKEA Cincinnati, IKEA photos, IKEA solar photos, IKEA solar power, IKEA solar power Cincinnati, IKEA solar power West Chester, IKEA West Chester, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Last week in West Chester, Liberty Township construction, Ohio 129, Ohio 129 Liberty Township, Tylersville Road, Tylersville Road West Chester, U.S. 42, U.S. 42 project, U.S. 42 West Chester, West Chester accident, West Chester Police Officer David Busemeyer, West Chester Traffic, West Chester traffic delays

The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting:

Police found two people dead Saturday morning in a car that crashed into two parked semi tractor-trailers at a distribution warehouse at 9842 International Blvd.

Barbara Wilson, public information officer for West Chester Township, said a passing motorist alerted police to the accident shortly after 9 a.m. She said police determined that the victims were traveling northbound on International Boulevard in a Honda Civic when it veered off the road, passed through a parking lot, hit two trees, encountered a berm and became airborne. When the car landed, it went under one tractor-trailer, sheering off the car’s top. The car then became wedged under a second tractor-trailer.

Names of the victims have not been released. Wilson had no information if drugs or alcohol were involved, and said that will be part of the investigation by police and coroner.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Barbara Wilson, West Chester accident

If the mild weather continues, West Chester Township figures to save thousands of dollars that could be used towards road maintenance, core competencies or for eliminating future tax increases.

So far this winter, West Chester has yet to accept delivery of additional salt and have not needed to pay for extra labor. In fact, the township has only used salt that was purchased for last year.

According, to West Chester spokeswoman Barbara Wilson, “our domes are full.”

“West Chester contracts for road salt at the beginning of each winter season and actually purchases the salt as needed throughout the season,” Wilson said. “It is our practice to keep the salt domes full and hold over any unused salt for use the next season.”

While it is not known how much the township has spent this winter on snow removal, two winters ago it spent more than $500,000. Last winter, the township spent $338,150.

“If we have a mild winter, such that the township does not spend as much as usual from its roads fund on snow plowing, the monies saved would not be moved to another fund,” West Chester Township Trustee Catherine Stoker said. “They would be expended as needed on other township road maintenance needs in the coming months.”

Furthermore, if the mild winter continues, the township will likely save money on energy costs. Those savings would remain in the same fund for future utility expenses, according to Stoker.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Barbara Wilson, Butler County weather, Catherine Stoker, Liberty Township weather, National Weather Service, snow, West Chester freezing rain, West Chester snow, West Chester Township Trustee, West Chester weather

Homearama brings crowds, jobs and money to West Chester

WestChesterBuzz.com will count down the area’s top 11 stories of 2011 this month, concluding with West Chester’s most discussed topic of the year Dec. 30.

After skipping 2010, the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati held its 49th Homearama in the West Chester residential development of Foxborough June 11-26.

Executive Director of the HBA Dan Dressman said the event was skipping last year due to “the downturn in the economy.”

The successful return of the annual event brought in more than 20,000 people, as well as money and jobs to West Chester this summer.

• Homerama 2011: Home-by-home breakdown
• Updated listing – 2011 Homearama house for sale for $799,000
• Updated listing – 2011 Homearama house for sale for $784,000

It is unclear how much money was generated from the 2011 edition of Homearama, but it is certain that the event contributed to the local economy by creating jobs and attracting people from different communities.

According to Dressman, an average of three jobs are created for every home that is built. The 2011 show featured five homes priced from $672,000 to 1,077,000.

“Homearama brought five home builders to the community, who invested in constructing five new homes and each of those homes required construction trade, decorators and landscapers. Building the homes required jobs and material purchases here in the community,” West Chester Township Administrator Judith Boyko said.

In addition to building costs and job creation, there has been a spillover effect into local businesses from the large crowds that attended the home showcase.

“It is impossible to say where the visitors have come from to attend Homearama, but it is likely that many of them came from other places besides West Chester and while they were here, they probably stopped and had dinner or visited a store or bought gas,” said Barbara Wilson, public information & marketing officer for West Chester. “In someway, they have probably contributed to the economy of West Chester.”

Homearama also featured 44 exhibits in its HOMEZONE and several outside exhibits on a variety of home-related products and services.

Foxborough, which is the residential community the event is being held, is located off Hamilton-Mason Road and State Route 747 in West Chester Township. It is near the Liberty Township border.

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Barbara Wilson, Collina Bella Casa, Dan Dressman, Daniels Hicks Homes, Drees, Foxborough, Greystone Custom Homes, Greystone Homes, Home Builders Association, Homearama, Homearama 2011, Homearama Cincinnati, Homearama Cincinnati 2011, Homearama West Chester, Homearama West Chester 2011, Jack H. Wieland Builders Inc., Judi Boyko, Judith Boyko, Justin Doyle Homes, Kimberly Ann, Manchester, New Brunswick, photo gallery, photos, The Augusta, The Drees Company, West Chester top 11 stories of 2011, West Chester top stories of 2011, Willig Greystone Custom Homes, Zaring Premier Homes

It is unclear how much money the 2011 edition of Homearama has bought to West Chester Township. However, it is certain that the annual event has contributed to the local economy by creating jobs and attracting people from different communities.

According to Dan Dressman, executive director of Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati, an average of three jobs are created for every home that is built.

“Homearama brought five home builders to the community, who invested in constructing five new homes and each of those homes required construction trade, decorators and landscapers. Building the homes required jobs and material purchases here in the community,” West Chester Township Administrator Judith Boyko said.

>>>HOME-BY-HOME BREAKDOWN AT HOMEARAMA 2011<<<

In addition to building costs and job creation, there has been a spillover effect into local businesses from the approximately 20,000 people who have attended the event between June 11 through June 23.

“It is impossible to say where the visitors have come from to attend Homearama, but it is likely that many of them came from other places besides West Chester and while they were here, they probably stopped and had dinner or visited a store or bought gas,” said Barbara Wilson, public information & marketing officer for West Chester. “In someway, they have probably contributed to the economy of West Chester.”

Homearama also features 44 exhibits in its HOMEZONE and several outside exhibits on a variety of home-related products and services.

The event ends after this weekend and will be open Friday, June 24, through Sunday, June 26, from noon to 10 p.m.

Tickets for this year’s Homearama cost $13 at the gate or $11 at Greater Cincinnati area Kroger stores. Children 12 and under will be admitted free of charge if accompanied by an adult.

For directions and more information visit the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati website.

Foxborough, which is the residential community the event is being held, is located off Hamilton-Mason Road and State Route 747 in West Chester Township. It is near the Liberty Township border.

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Barbara Wilson, Collina Bella Casa, Dan Dressman, Daniels Hicks Homes, Drees, Foxborough, Greystone Custom Homes, Greystone Homes, Home Builders Association, Homearama, Homearama 2011, Homearama Cincinnati, Homearama Cincinnati 2011, Homearama West Chester, Homearama West Chester 2011, Jack H. Wieland Builders Inc., Judi Boyko, Judith Boyko, Justin Doyle Homes, Kimberly Ann, Manchester, New Brunswick, photo gallery, photos, The Augusta, The Drees Company, Willig Greystone Custom Homes, Zaring Premier Homes