Pickaway County farmland could be home to new development

PICKAWAY CO., Ohio (WCMH) -- A proposal for a new development in northern Pickaway County is being met with concerns from residents.  It would be built on more than 300 acres of farmland along Gibson Road and state route 762. The proposal includes more than 1,200 homes and commercial space.

Many residents are sounding the alarm on this development. Pickaway County is known as a prominent agricultural area in Ohio and those opposed say a development of that size could be a threat not only to that industry, but to schools and safety.

Cory Wasmus lives across from the proposed site. He, along with neighbors, feels the process hasn't been made public enough. That's why he took his concerns to Facebook to educate the community. That video has gone viral locally. 

"This landowner, our beefs not with him or them. It's more along the lines of this property is the last big section of land in our area and we'd like to have some say on the development of it," Wasmus said. 

The land is currently in Scioto Township. But Pickaway County commissioners could approve an annexation into commercial point. 

"The roads are not capable of handling this kind of traffic," resident Jamie Mitchell said. "The village is not capable of handling this kind of traffic."

Barton Fannin, a Scioto Township trustee, has doubts on whether the township's infrastructure can keep up with the rapid growth. 

"Can we keep up with the infrastructure fire, EMS?" Fannin said. "We live in a township that kids go to Teays Valley School System. Teays Valley School system currently is maxed out. There's a levy that is going to be hitting in May here." 

Cameron Brackman said he's worried about what a development of this size could mean for his property taxes and kids' education.

"Also, because of the redistricting, that now is putting a larger development in is going to impact the schools in which my kids go to which are already overcrowded," Brackman said. 

In the meantime, those who farm in the area like Fannin, said it would pose a safety hazard.

"These equipment are big," Fannin said. "They're large. They're hard to get up and down roads. So with that being said, the more cars and the more traffic that are there, it just makes working a little bit tougher in our region."

According to residents, road and traffic have already been a problem in the area. They fear this would only worsen the problem.

"We are not ready for this," resident Jamie Mitchell said. "Our area is not ready for this. Not just the township, but the whole school district, the county. You're talking one of the largest subdivisions in the county. And we're not ready for it. We're not against the growth, just not at this extreme quite yet."

Pickaway County commissioners are set to meet Tuesday morning to discuss the potential annexation of the land.