By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - In an effort to slow explosive growth, Warren County commissioners are expected to approve larger lot size and green space requirements today for new subdivisions.

The new rules will include 2-acre lots for homes in areas without sewers, and half-acre lots in areas with sewers, up from previous sizes recently adopted by the Warren County Rural Zoning Commission.

Other changes include setting aside 20 percent of planned developments for green space.

The vote is expected at a 5 p.m. meeting at the Warren County Administration Building, 406 Justice Drive in Lebanon.

Warren is Ohio's second-fastest-growing county and the nation's 45th-fastest growing.

The new requirements are meant to reduce the number of new homes in the five townships where the county controls zoning: Turtlecreek, Harlan, Union, Washington and Franklin.

"We now have a very good piece of zoning legislation, barring any unforeseen or last minute changes, which I don't really expect," said Commissioner Pat South.

While homebuilders suggested many of the changes, residents overwhelmingly have pleaded with commissioners to increase lot sizes.

Bob Buffenbarger, who founded an awareness group called the Residents Association of West-Central Warren County, said he was surprised county commissioners are agreeing to the 2-acre requirement for homes in areas without sewers.

He still thinks the lot size requirements should be higher to keep from crowding Warren's already packed streets and schools.

He also is concerned homebuilders had too much influence over the new code.

"We're oversaturated for the conditions of the roads and the schools," said Buffenbarger, 76. "I would like to see as much remain agricultural as possible, but you can't stop people from selling their land."

But Larry Sprague of Fischer Homes, who worked with the zoning commission on the changes, lamented that county commissioners apparently aren't going to agree to all of the zoning commission's decisions, particularly on a suggested 1.5 acre lot size for areas without sewers.

"We are disappointed they are not listening to their own zoning commission," said Sprague, president of the Ohio Valley Development Council.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com