Recent news articles
have led to certain misperceptions about the updated Butler County
Thoroughfare Plan and how it was generated. Butler County Engineer
Greg Wilkens offers the following points in an effort to clarify
for our citizens the intent, development, and attributes of the
Plan:
Q: Why has the Thoroughfare Plan
draft been called "controversial" by the media?
A: To characterize the Plan as
"controversial" over dramatizes questions about a very
small portion in Oxford Township -- the only portion of the Thoroughfare
Plan that has generated concern. The majority of the Plan draft
has not been disputed in any way. Development of the Plan involved
the integration of County, state, and federal roadway networks
with those of 13 townships, seven cities, and six villages. Although
not required by the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), the County Engineer
organized two public hearings to solicit public opinion about
the Plan draft. These hearings were advertised and held by the
County Commissioners. There was no attendance from the public
at either hearing and consequently no objections were raised
to any part of the Thoroughfare Plan. Therefore, the County Engineer
moved the Plan forward. Upon presentation of the Plan to the
Butler County Planning Commission, the Oxford Township portion
was abruptly met with public opposition. While this concern is
being carefully and respectfully evaluated, it is important to
not lose the perspective that this is one piece of an otherwise
very large and comprehensive Plan.
Q: Is the County Engineer attempting
to force this Plan on the citizens of Oxford Township?
A: The County Engineer moved
forward with the Plan when there was no public opposition at
two public hearings. The Oxford area portion of the Plan draft
was provided to the Thoroughfare Plan Advisory Committee by the
City of Oxford and integrated with the rest of the countywide
Plan. Apparent differences between the City of Oxford and Oxford
Township concerning the City's proposed network of roadways outside
the city limits are what have been brought into question. This
is a local dispute in which the County Engineer, whose job it
is to look at a total countywide perspective and ensure that
local plans integrate properly within the bigger picture, has
been caught in the middle.
Q: Will the proposed roads in
Oxford Township be built and therefore destroy the rural character
of the Township?
A: The Butler County Thoroughfare
Plan is designed to fit development if it occurs. Should
development not occur, the roads will not be constructed. Lack
of a sound plan leads to urban sprawl, which is precisely what
the Township indicates that it does not want. Northwest Butler
County is growing. Recent analyses performed by the Northwest
Butler County Study group indicate that population growth and
traffic counts will continue to increase in the Oxford area.
Many roads in the study area already do not provide the LOS (Level
of Service) that they should. Having a plan in place to meet
these growing demands on the infrastructure is critical if uncontrolled
development is to be avoided.
Q: Does a legal opinion issued
by the Butler County Prosecutor's Office contradict the County
Engineer's efforts to approve and adopt the Plan?
A: The Prosecutor and the Engineer
are citing two different sections of the Ohio Revised Code. While the Prosecutor has
referenced ORC Section 711.10, the County Engineer has
developed the Thoroughfare Plan in accordance with ORC Section 5541.01, the same section under
which the 1994 Butler County Thoroughfare Plan was developed
and formally adopted by the County Commissioners on January 20,
1994, Resolution
No. 94-1-91. That Plan was also approved by the Butler County
Planning Commission which passed Resolution
No. 93.127 on October 12, 1993 asking that the Plan be recommended
to the County Commissioners for approval. To further confuse
matters, the ORC states that there must be a roadway plan
but does not specify the process by which that plan is to be
adopted. Hence, there has been no attempt by the County Engineer
to circumvent the legal process as has been insinuated in the
press. Based on the Prosecutor's opinion that a county planning
commission is the approving body for a county or regional highway
plan, the County Engineer will ask for adoption of the updated
Thoroughfare Plan under ORC Section 711.10.
Q: What is the next step?
A: The County Engineer will meet
with the Butler County Planning Commission on March 13, 2007
and recommend that the updated Thoroughfare Plan be approved
under ORC Section 711.10 per the Prosecutor's opinion.
Said Plan shall revert to the version that was approved by the
Planning Commission on November 14, 2006, Resolution
No. 06.153, which depicts a different configuration of proposed
roads in Oxford Township from a slightly revised version that
was presented at the public hearings in January 2007. Should
the City of Oxford and Oxford Township come to a resolution with
each other regarding their proposed network of roadways, the
Thoroughfare Plan Advisory Committee will review the proposal
and make recommendations to the Planning Commission for integration
with the rest of the 2007 Thoroughfare Plan.
Purpose
and Development of the Butler County Thoroughfare Plan
- The updated Butler
County Thoroughfare Plan, which is still officially in draft
form, is a master plan for the County's rapidly expanding roadway
grid. Designed to provide Butler County citizens with a safe,
diversified, and more efficient transportation system, this comprehensive
countywide Thoroughfare Plan will be a long-range project planning
and development tool for BCEO engineers as well as all County,
city, and township planners.
- The Plan strives for
a united, orderly approach to improving our countywide transportation
infrastructure.
- The Plan has been
developed in accordance with Section 5541.01 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). This is the same
section which under which the 1994 Butler County Thoroughfare
Plan was developed. That Plan was approved by the Butler County
Planning Commission and formally adopted by the County Commissioners
on January 20, 1994, Resolution
No. 94-1-91.
- A team of community
leaders from throughout Butler County was assembled by the County
Engineer to serve on an advisory committee. This diverse group
was comprised of township, city, and County officials as well
as representatives from OKI (Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council
of Governments) and the private sector. They were assigned to
subcommittees that were responsible for development of proposed
projects, technical counsel, and integration of bikeway and pedestrian
facilities.
- Once adopted the revised
Thoroughfare Plan will replace the 1994 version.
- # # #
For more information
contact:
Chris
Petrocy, BCEO Public Information Supervisor
Greg Wilkens, P.E., P.S.,
Butler County Engineer
Phone 513.867.5744 • Fax 513.867.5849
