The Bath Township Trustees have officially passed an overlay resolution they believe will bring future growth in the Lost Creek area. The proposed overlay would cover State Route 309 between Saratoga Avenue and west of Devonshire Drive.
It would allow someone who buys a residential property in the area to change it into a commercial space as long it meets approved guidelines. Current homeowners would not be affected by the overlay unless they decide to sell their property.
The trustees have been working on this proposal for close to a year. They say this overlay will help provide protections on the types and quality of future development without changing the current zoning.
“We think it’s going to protect that area’s residential section and also allow a type of develop that is going to allow a type of development that’s going to be a lot higher quality on an extremely busy corridor,” said Bob Sielschott, a Bath Township trustee.
Although the trustees believe this overlay will benefit the Lost Creek area, one resident says it could really hurt it.
“We just don’t believe for the other 100 homes that are left that that’s good,” said Ruth Hollenbacher, a Bath Township resident. “It’s just not. You just don’t put a business up against a residential area and have the residential area thrive.”
Hollenbacher says she'll be meeting with an attorney to file a referendum. If that is successful, the issue will be on the ballot in the fall. If not, the overlay will go into effect within 30 days.
