By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

BATAVIA - Clermont County commissioners have taken another step toward transforming Ohio 32 into a limited-access highway and improving other parts of the county's main transportation corridor.

This week, they endorsed 21 priorities in a land vision plan to improve traffic flow and encourage development along the thoroughfare.

The plan mentions a variety of projects, some of which have begun. They include a new interchange for Main Street at Batavia, a lodge at or near East Fork State Park, creating Main Street development programs for Batavia and Williamsburg, and relocating Clough Pike west of Batavia to connect to Main Street and avoid crossing the railroad tracks.

The plan is the result of work that began in 1999 through community forums, focus groups and meetings. An oversight committee was created, and the group developed the action plans. The townships and villages, including Batavia, Batavia Township, Jackson Township, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Township and Union Township, have already adopted the plan.

"This is an important plan for us. It's not only important to the county, but also to the region as a whole," said Board President Mary Walker. She stressed that items in the plan will develop a piece at a time as funding becomes available, and different offices and jurisdictions will implement the projects.

Within the plan, each jurisdiction has set its own priorities and is pushing for different projects. For example, in Batavia, creating a full interchange at Main Street is first priority, and in Union Township, trustees support connecting Ferguson Road between Eastgate Boulevard and Clough Pike.

In Batavia Township, an engineering firm is studying plans to connect the campus of the University of Cincinnati-Clermont with Ohio Old 74 to provide access from the newly opened Amelia-Olive Branch Road exit off Ohio 32.

And in Jackson Township, officials are working with the developer of the 1,000-acre White Farm along Ohio 276 to create residential and commercial uses. On Wednesday, the commissioners signed a letter to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources requesting grant opportunities and assistance in locating a conference center or lodge in East Fork State Park.

Along with road projects, the oversight committee also stressed the importance of maintaining green space and improving recreation in the county. One of the actions is for all of the communities involved to work together to preserve land for parks.

The county has created an Open Space Subcommittee of the Planning Commission. The plan also includes an effort to develop an East Fork hike/bike trail in Williamsburg and Batavia, possibly connecting it to the Little Miami Bike Trail.

Commissioner Bob Proud said the study is an important look at what the Ohio 32 corridor should be.