Wednesday, April 26, 2000Lebanon to rethink trees rule
Developers object to requirements
By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati EnquirerLEBANON — A barrage of criticism from industrial developers prompted City Council to send proposed landscaping rules back to committee for tweaking Tuesday night.
One company president said the rules would force him to plant so many trees he wouldn't have room for a needed expansion.
“I like being here, but I can't stay here if I can't make my building larger,” said Gregory Sheanshang, JBM Envelope Co., who said he's looking at adding 80 jobs.
The proposed landscape ordinance, drafted by city officials over the past year, would require 20 trees per acre in new business and residential developments. Half must be large trees, or those that grow to at least 50 feet.
It also would require that trees be planted along streets, in buffer zones and in parking lots, and require that developers try to avoid tearing down old trees.
Despite developers' concerns, the ordinance retains strong supporters on council and among residents.
“It's our responsibility to protect these trees, and it's about time we take that step,” Councilman Mark Flick said to loud applause.
Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance at its May 9 meeting, after council's Area Development Committee discusses it May 4.
Tuesday was the first meeting for Councilwoman Jane Davenport. The longtime Lebanon resident, who
ran unsuccessfully last year as a write-in candidate, was appointed Monday night to fill former Councilman Joe McKenzie's seat.
Also Tuesday, council heard about the first prospective tenant for its new industrial park. Columbia Franklin LLC, a company that welds copper, is looking at moving into the city's new Columbia Business Park — so called because it's on Columbia Road. The $1.5 million, 55,000-square-foot plant would employ 40 people within two years.
Columbia Franklin would be the park's first tenant and would occupy about 7 acres of the 138-acre park.
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