By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BATAVIA TWP. - A flier asking voters in this central Clermont County township to approve two referendums has some residents angry and concerned.

Sponsored by the group Citizens for Smart Growth, the one-page flier asks voters to say yes to the issues. They address zoning changes approved by township trustees to pave the way for two subdivisions.

At first glance it appears to contain copies of the referendums as they will appear on the ballot.

But a closer look reveals numerous misspellings and words that run together - mistakes that are absent from the real ballot issues.

"It appears to have been sent to confuse the voters. It's just out there to muddy the waters and I think that is really sad," said Patricia Sweet.

A Batavia Township resident and member of Citizens for a Rural and Valued Environment (CRAVE), Sweet's group wants residents to vote against the two referendums.

CRAVE was organized after two zoning changes were approved.

The group believes the projects, one on 99 acres abutting Amelia-Olive Branch and Judd roads; the other on 98 acres between Apple Road and Ohio 132, are too dense.

They believe they'll overburden existing infrastructure and destroy the area's aesthetic appeal.

The developers contend their subdivisions would increase the township's tax base and ultimately improve existing infrastructure.

They have sought to have the referendums removed from the Nov. 4 ballot, but their protests were denied by Clermont County's Board of Elections. They have since appealed to the Ohio 12th District Court of Appeals.

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com