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Plain Township to Vote on 140-Home Development

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2026/02/0 .. in-township-to-vote-on-140-home-development.html
  Published in House and Home on Sunday, February 8th 2026 at 15:33 GMT by The Repository
      Locales: Ohio, UNITED STATES

PLAIN TOWNSHIP, OH - February 8th, 2026 - The Plain Township Trustees are nearing a critical juncture in the long-running saga of the Ivy Reserves property, with a final vote scheduled for January 20th, 2026. The decision will determine the fate of a proposed 140-home single-family housing development on the 73-acre parcel, a project that has sparked considerable debate and revision over the past several months.

The development, spearheaded by Shane O'Neill of O'Neill Properties Group, initially envisioned 168 homes. However, this larger proposal met with staunch opposition from both township residents and the Plain Local Schools district, leading trustees to demand a reduction in scope. The reduction to 140 homes reflects an attempt to address these concerns, but significant questions remain about the project's overall impact on the community.

At a meeting held earlier this week, representatives from Plain Local Schools reiterated their apprehension regarding potential increases in student enrollment. The addition of potentially hundreds of new students could strain already-stretched resources, requiring costly expansions to school facilities and potentially impacting the quality of education. School officials have been vocal in requesting mitigation strategies, such as financial contributions from the developer to support school infrastructure improvements. The precise nature of these contributions, and whether they will be sufficient to address the long-term impact on school enrollment, remains a key sticking point in the negotiations.

Beyond the educational concerns, residents have voiced anxieties relating to increased traffic congestion, potential strain on existing infrastructure - including water, sewer, and roadways - and the loss of valuable green space. The Ivy Reserves property currently represents a significant undeveloped area within Plain Township, and many residents are keen to preserve its natural character. Concerns have also been raised about the density of the proposed development and whether 140 homes represent a reasonable balance between providing housing options and maintaining the township's rural character.

"We understand the need for housing, but it has to be responsible development," stated Sarah Miller, a resident who lives near the Ivy Reserves property. "We're not against growth, but we want to ensure that it doesn't come at the expense of our schools, our roads, or the quality of life we enjoy in Plain Township." This sentiment is widely shared amongst many residents who have actively participated in township meetings and submitted written comments to the trustees.

The history of the Ivy Reserves proposal highlights the complexities of balancing economic development with community concerns. O'Neill Properties Group initially presented the project as a positive step towards addressing the growing demand for housing in the region. The company has emphasized its commitment to building high-quality homes and creating a desirable community within Plain Township. They've also alluded to potential economic benefits, including increased property tax revenue for the township.

However, the repeated delays and revisions suggest that achieving a mutually agreeable solution has been challenging. The trustees have been caught in the middle, attempting to navigate the competing interests of the developer, the school district, and the residents. Their upcoming vote represents a culmination of months of deliberation, public hearings, and negotiations.

The January 20th meeting is expected to draw a large crowd, with residents eager to hear the trustees' decision and understand the rationale behind it. The outcome will likely set a precedent for future development projects in Plain Township and could significantly shape the community's growth trajectory for years to come. Beyond the specific details of the Ivy Reserves development, the situation underscores the broader challenges facing many rapidly growing suburban communities as they grapple with the demands of increasing populations and the need to balance economic progress with environmental sustainability and quality of life.

The trustees will meet at 7 p.m. on January 20th at Plain Township Hall, located at 1820 Smith Road. Public comment will be permitted during the meeting, providing residents with one last opportunity to voice their opinions before the final vote.