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Miami Township Land Use Plan

from Greene County “Perspectives”

The open space of Miami Township provides for a multitude of opportunities and community well being. The recreational and relaxation opportunities provided by open space are a significant benefit to the physical and mental health of all members of the community. These places provide education and spiritual enrichment, and protect cultural and scientific resources. Natural, undeveloped areas afford scientists and students the opportunity to study how ecosystems function, especially those adjacent to urbanized areas. They provide places to teach children the natural sciences and appreciation for the environment. Historic and archeological resources are often located at open space sites, where they may be protected for enjoyment and study.

The Little Miami Scenic Trail and its associated greenway is a good example of how open space enhances the community image, increases opportunities for recreation, supports commercial uses, attracts visitors and encourages tourism. The multi-purpose trail also provides an alternative transportation routes for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The natural areas around the Village of Yellow Springs have helped to create a philosophy of appreciation for the natural environment that the Village has. The open space that borders the village includes some of the above mentioned sites and the floodplains of the Little Miami River, the Jacoby Creek, and the Yellow Springs Creek. These water resources lend form the Village by helping to define its exterior boundaries.

The Village recognize it’s potential and has planned for its future, as can be seen by the adoption of the Village of Yellow Springs Comprehensive Plan, 1996. This land use plan supports the Village’s efforts and includes the Village of Yellow Springs Comprehensive Plan as part of this plan. This land use plan recognizes and fosters the Village’s comprehensive plan desire to maintain and encourage the current ambiance of the Village of Yellow Springs, “small” and “rural” should be preserved together with a healthy central business district, the “hub” of the Village is an intrigue part of the Village’s valued character together with the green belt/open space both within and around the Village.

Unlike most Villages within Greene County, the Village of Clifton was not established to provide support businesses and services to area farmers, even though it became a secondary function, and it was not located along a railroad route. The Village of Clifton was built based upon the energy of the Little Miami River. The abundant supply of water did much to encourage the settlement of the Village of Clifton. The energy harnessed by the mills to produce and process goods and even supply electricity for a short period was the main purpose of this, before its time, “industrial park.”

The Village of Clifton and its surrounding natural environment create a unique sense of place within the county. The historic commercial, industrial, public, religious and residential buildings were built to meet the needs of the people attracted to the opportunities of the river together with the people living in the sparsely populated rural north central portions of Greene County and south central Clark County.

This land use plan knows it is important that the Village of Yellow Springs and the Village of Clifton retain their sense of identity as they mature. The potential future development that will occur does not necessarily represent a change in the function of these villages, but could be influenced by a change in the nature of the surrounding population. New businesses should be located in available older structures whenever possible and new buildings should be sited and designed to compliment the environment in which they are built. Each village center “hub” should be expanded in a manner in keeping with its historic purpose. New development surrounding the original village center should be linked with, yet separate from, the historic character of the village cores.

The unincorporated areas of Miami Township outside the above mentioned natural areas are predominantly agricultural. This land use plan calls for minimal new development in the agricultural areas of the Township and supports logical and planned growth for the Villages.

This plan encourages the protection of the existing land use trends of the unincorparated areas of the township.

1-     Agricultural uses.

2-     Countryside residential development, where limited single-family dwellings are allowed on non-prime farmland, along existing roadways.

3-     The open space corridor.

Planning in the unincorporated areas of Miami township will focus on the protection of farmland and farming as a way of life. Agricultural land is a nonrenewable resource that contributes to a stable county and  national economy. (See Greene County Farmland Protection Policy)  By recognizing and protecting this important land use, and by setting an agenda for the future, this plan seeks to allow agriculture and its supporting services to continue to thrive in Miami Township.