DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP — Jeri Terkosky has been holding her breath ever since she learned a year ago that the city of Mason wants to build a 175-foot water tower next to her home.

        She's still waiting to exhale.

        “The fact that Mason would go ahead and purchase land for this kind of use and not let any of the surrounding property owners know about it seems really underhanded to me,” said Mrs. Terkosky, a resident of the Hampton Village subdivision. “I feel betrayed and slighted by the city.”

        Mrs. Terkosky was one of more than 60 township residents who turned out last week to watch Deerfield's zoning commission reject Mason's site plan proposal for the water tower. The advisory board turned down the plan because the 2 million-gallon water tower exceeded the township's maximum height allowance for residential areas by 140 feet.

        Despite the board's denial, Mrs. Terkosky said she knows the fight to keep the water tower out of her backyard is far from over. The zoning commission is just the first in a two-step process.

        Mason officials must now go before Deerfield Township's zoning board of appeals. The appeals board, which has the final say on zoning matters, will meet April 12.

        “I think we are doing everything we can to try to comply with the township's code,” Mason Assistant City Manager Eric Hansen said. “We certainly have a right to build a water tower there to service our residents ... and we expect to be successful at the township in getting this tower approved.”

        City officials want to construct the $2.5 million water tower on six acres along Mason Road, which is zoned single-family residential. However, the township's zoning code prohibits construction of any structure taller than 35 feet in areas zoned for single-family use.

        “To get anything above 35 feet they would have to go to the zoning board of appeals and get a variance,” Commission President Lee Spiedel said.

        If granted, the variance would allow Mason to build a structure taller than 35 feet — just not a water tower. For that, Mason would also need to get the board to grant it a conditional use permit allowing for the construction of a government utility.

        “Both of those (a variance and conditional use permit) would require the BZA to find that what is being approved will not adversely affect the public safety, health and morals,” Planning and Zoning Administrator Tim Hershner said. “That is where they are going to have a sticking point.”

        Mr. Hansen said Mason remains committed to building the tower because there are hundreds of city residents relying on it. He said if necessary, the city will take legal action to get it built.

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