SOUTH LEBANON — Nearly 1,000 upscale homes could be built in South Lebanon over the next five years on 206 acres annexed Tuesday with unanimous approval by the Warren County Commissioners.

        The land, south of the Little Miami River and southeast of the village in Hamilton Township, is now a family farm owned by Wilbur and Virginia Ritchey. But Oak Leaf Homes is under contract to purchase the land, said Bill Duning, the family's attorney for the annexation process.

        Edward Rogerson, president of Oak Leaf Homes, said the development is still in the planning stages. Oak Leaf Homes also developed part of the Villages of Heritage Green subdivision in Deerfield Township.

        Mr. Rogerson, who grew up in Hamilton Township and has family there, expects to build 996 luxury homes on the Ritchey property, which borders the 2003 Homearama site.

        “We're thrilled to be building in this area and that the annexation was amicable,” Mr. Rogerson said. “It's very important to us to maintain good relationships with the village and the township.”

        He expects the project to begin construction next summer. Mr. Rogerson did not yet have an estimate for the price range of the homes.

        In the meantime, he will be in talks with the two school districts affected by the development to clarify boundary lines.

        About one-third of the land is in the Kings Local School District

        and the rest is in Little Miami Local School District.

        The annexation was the first in Warren County since a new annexation law went into effect in March that allows for quick annexation when 100 percent of the property owners involved support it.

        It also provides for Hamilton Township and the schools to continue receiving the property taxes for the land, Mr. Duning said.

        The village of South Lebanon, which agreed to the annexation, will be responsible for providing police and other municipal services to the area, and will also benefit from income tax collected from the area's residents. Fire service will continue to be provided by the joint fire district.

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