That was the sentiment expressed Monday evening by several of the 20-plus people who attended an hourlong public hearing on the Woodlands at Morrow. Plans call for more than 900 homes on 435 acres of a former ski resort. Council listened to their concerns and will discuss the proposal again at next week's meeting.

Residents are concerned with the amount of green space that Nathaniel Development has planned. They feel that because the open area is mainly on the perimeter, the homes in the center will be built too closely together.

"Your green spaces are the cliffs, the hillsides and down in the valley, down in the floodplain," argued Ruth MacKenzie, who is with the Morrow Environmental Preservation Association. "You don't have 20 percent usable green space in any one section that the kids can play, or that people can do something in."

But developers say there will be plenty of open area. Plans call for several playgrounds, walking trails and a community pool.

"We are pulling lots off slopes," said Joe Allen, president of the Western Hills-based developer. "We are pulling things in more. But that's why the zoning code is written that way - to encourage developers to do that, to save the slopes and save the streams."

Several people also were concerned that some lots are partially in the floodplain. According to Brad Schwab of McKenna Associates, who was contracted by the village, several lots were removed for that reason. Those that remain have enough land out of the floodplain to build a home foundation, Schwab said.

The developer also has removed proposed condos.

If the development is approved, it would easily double the village's population of 1,370. Before the 10-plus years of construction starts, the developer still has to work out sewer issues with Warren County. There also is about an acre of lead-contaminated soil from a former National Guard shooting range that must be cleaned up.

The plan has planning commission's approval.

Council is supposed to discuss it twice more before voting, though members could suspend the rules and vote next week.

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