85% oppose rezoning for the Farm at Indian Run
Jerome Township residents decidedly struck down a recent rezoning, with a whopping 85% voting against it in Tuesday’s referendum election.
The rezoning would have paved the way for Wicked Chicken, LLC to develop 40 single-family homes in a subdivision called the Farm at Indian Run.
According to unofficial results from the Union County Board of Elections, 750 voters opposed the zoning amendment, while only 132 were in favor.
Residents circulated a referendum petition in response to a decision by the trustees to rezone 24.74 acres on McKitrick Road, east of Mitchell-Dewitt Road, from Rural Residential District to Planned Development District.
In August 2020, the board voted 2-1 for the rezoning with Trustee Megan Sloat dissenting.
Zoning Inspector Eric Snowden said the election results, though, mean the zoning amendment will not go into effect. The land will remain zoned as Rural Residential District.
While the outcome differs from the decision made by the board of trustees, now-Chair Sloat said township officials will honor the voices of their residents.
“If there are enough residents wanting the referendum issue on the ballot, then I certainly respect that process,” she said Wednesday morning.
The proposed development met staunch opposition from a group of McKitrick Road residents who have regularly attended public meetings since July 2020.
Bob Chapman, whose home is nearest to the proposed site, has actively opposed the Farm at Indian Run throughout the rezoning process.
Wednesday morning, he said he is “very happy” with the election results, adding that there were even more “no” votes than he expected.
He said the large margin is indicative of feelings in the township toward recently proposed developments.
“Hopefully that will send a message to the trustees that many people are unhappy with the rezoning going on,” Chapman said.
He noted that he understands development is inevitable but feels it should be approved selectively.
“We’ll continue to support the idea that we should preserve the rural character of our township,” he said.
While he is pleased with the outcome of the referendum, he said he has “no idea what comes next.”
Director of Departments Douglas Stewart said it is “too early to tell” what actions the developer will take in response to the referendum. He said he is hopeful the developers and residents will be able to come to a “resolution.”