A draft of a Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the unincorporated portion of Oxford Twp. was unveiled at a public forum April 3. The plan was prepared by a 15-member citizens committee appointed by Oxford Twp. trustees.

Jim Rubenstein, chairman of the plan committee, said the plan is designed to halt the loss of agricultural land in Oxford Twp., which totaled 995 acres the past eight years.

"The large contiguous area of agricultural land surrounding Oxford is one of this area's most important aesthetic and economic assets," Rubenstein told the audience of about 85 who attended the forum.

Rubenstein said the plan committee has identified six environmental features that need protection from development: streams, aquifer sources, steep slopes, woods, flood plains and endangered species.

The plan divides the unincorporated portion of Oxford Twp. into four areas:

• Agricultural/conservation — areas with none of the six sensitive environmental features previously listed and are suitable for agriculture, natural areas and conservation development.

• Environmentally sensitive — areas with one or two of the six sensitive environmental features and also are suitable for agriculture, natural areas and conservation development.

• Unsuitable for development — areas with three or more of the six sensitive environmental features and are best kept as natural areas.

• Public areas — Hueston Woods and Miami University natural areas.

Rubenstein said the plan encourages conservation development and identifies sensitive environmental and cultural features and clustering houses on the least sensitive land.

• The plan does not support construction of new

connector or bypass roads in Oxford Twp.

Rubenstein said the plan committee opposed the U.S. 27/Ohio 73 Connector because it would go through some of the township's most sensitive environmental areas and would not solve Oxford's traffic issues generated by Miami University's hourly class changes. Committee members also said they feared the connector would become part of a larger bypass around Oxford.

After incorporating public comments into the plan, the committee will send a final draft to Oxford Twp. trustees for consideration at their May 12 meeting. The plan would next go to the Butler County Planning Commission on June 10. If approved by both the trustees and commission, the plan would be officially adopted.

Information about the plan can be found online at development.butlercountyohio.

org/ and by clicking on "Department Projects."