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B1 Your Community Press newspaper serving Loveland, Miami Township, Symmes Township E-mail: loveland@communitypress.com We d n e s d a y, J u n e 1 7 , 2 0 0 9
Heather Brenner
Volume 91 Number 17 © 2009 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Give your favorite local businesses their much deserved recognition by nominating them for a Readers’ Choice award. Use the ballot on the back page of this section or go to communitypress.com to vote online. All ballots that contain at least one nomination will be eligible for a random drawing of four Kings Island passes.
An entire chapter of Lee Bergquist’s new book is devoted to Loveland resident Greg Osterman and it would be hard to find a man more deserving. “Second Wind: The Rise of the Ageless Athlete” is about older athletes. Chapter 7, called “A Runner’s Heart,” tells Osterman’s story. SEE LIFE, B1
Intent on learning
Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy’s “high honors seniors” signed their letters of intent for the various colleges and universities they will be attending in the fall during Academic Signing Day. SEE SCHOOLS, A5
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Property rights or property wrongs?
Big Brother lives here?
Your home may be your castle, but if you want to build a moat, or swimming pool, or castle fence, you may not be permitted – or have to jump through several bureaucratic hoops to do so. The Loveland Herald looks at what you can and can not do as a homeowner – depending on where you live. You might be surprised. • Inside – Chart on A2 compares local communities.
Symmes moves against ‘nuisances’ By Amanda Hopkins ahopkins@communitypress.com
Community: Symmes Township Address: 9982 Washington Ave. The issue: After owner Kathleen Wilkinson told the Symmes Township Board of Trustees that she would clean up the debris at her residence, the trustees voted to table the issue of providing for abatement to the property to July’s agenda. Wilkinson made her plea to keep the trustees from ruling her property a nuisance. History: Wilkinson said a
The house at 11405 Terwilligers Valley Lane, which Symmes Township administrator Gerald Beckman said is apparently abandoned, was approved for abatement because of high grass.
“The best way to get these neighbors cleaned up is for you to lead by example.”
Phil Beck Symmes Township trustee
neighbor had sent complaints to the township over her high grass, the building materials for construction on her property and about a tree knocked down during a winter storm. The grass has been cut, but the construction material and the tree were still in the yard. Wilkinson said that the neighbor dispute has disrupted construction after the phone line and electric line were cut off. “The more (the neighbor) complains about what I do the longer it’s taking me to do anything,” Wilkinson said. She also said that other houses on her street are littered with debris and yards are not maintained. The trustees told Wilkinson to clean up her property, including contruction materials that would raise safety concerns, to avoid having the township step in.
AMANDA HOPKINS/STAFF
A neighbor had complained about construction and debris on the property at 9982 Washington Avenue but the Symmes Township Board of Trustees tabled the issue of abatement after the property owner promised to clean up the property. Reaction: “We want the whole property cleaned up,” trustee President Ken Bryant told Wilkinson. “Let’s make a priority of it.” Trustee Phil Beck also said that the issue with neighboring property could be resolved. “The best way to get these neighbors cleaned up is for you to lead by example,” Beck said. Wilkinson was invited back to the July 7 regular meeting to update the trustees on the progress made. Also in Symmes: Johnson
Automotive at 10732 LovelandMadeira Road and a residence at 11405 Terwilligers Valley Lane are vacant. Trustees allowed for no more than $2,500 to be set aside for township Administrator Gerald Beckman to contract a company to take care of the yard maintenance to the properties. A bill will be sent to the property owners and if those are not paid, Beckman said the amount will be assessed to the owners’ taxes.
Carroll: Zoning laws protect everyone’s rights Loveland City Manager Tom Carroll answers some questions about the issue of property rights:
Some might say it is downright un-American to tell a property owner what he can and cannot do on his own land. Is that a defensible position? “Many legal cases have been ruled upon which tell all of us what we can and cannot do as property owners, or as the city government. That said, one of the things that makes this country great is the fact that everyone is entitled to their opinion, and to the right to voice it.”
In what circumstances should the rights of property owners be circumscribed? “There are property owners’ rights, and then there’s just being a good neighbor. In general, the already-established law defines the limits on where my rights end and my neighbor’s begin.” Are the rights of specific property owners sometimes curtailed for the perceived good of the community as a whole? “Yes, and this is where zoning laws comes in. In most communities, different areas of town
allow only certain types of uses – housing, retail, commercial, light industry, farming and so forth. In a well-planned community, the majority of property fits within their zoned area. After all, most people wouldn’t want an adult bar moving in next door to their house or the child’s day care center. Zoning is designed to protect everybody’s rights by ensuring that doesn’t happen.” Shouldn’t property owners expect that the closer they live or work to other property owners, the more restric-
tions will be placed on property use? “Overall, many laws are universal and Carroll apply whether you live in an apartment complex or on a 20-acre farm. However, you would obviously be more likely to get away with a loud party late at night if you lived on the farm and nobody was around to be bothered and notify the police. Again, that’s where zoning comes in; careful planning prevents many problems.”
Arts council’s Paint the Town event begins June 22 The Loveland Arts Council invites artists to “Paint the Town.” Paint or create in any art medium between June 22 and June 28. Loveland offers many views for artists: Little Miami Scenic River & Bike Trail, Granny’s Garden, Historic Downtown District, Log Cabin, Loveland Castle, Grailville Retreat Center and Organic Farm, etc. Go to Loveland Hardware (131
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AMANDA HOPKINS/STAFF
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Broadway, Loveland, next to Eads Fence) to register any time during the event. Artists receive an artists packet which will include instructions, event name tag and a map of the area including private places where artists participating in this event will have special permission to work. There is a $20 registration fee ($10 for Loveland Arts Council
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members – to join go to www.all4art.info) Special events for 2009: • Special plein air workshop, by local artist Deidre Dyson, Monday, June 22. • Artist lunch at the Works, Wednesday, June 24. • Cocktail party at 234 Railroad Ave., Friday, June 26. • Loveland garden visits, Saturday, June 27.
• Wet paint sale, Sunday, June 28. After the painting period, there will be a wet paint sale Sunday, June 28, in Historic Loveland on the lawn in front of the Runner’s Depot. Artists can sell their work without commission fees. This event is co-sponsored by www.HistoricLoveland.com. Visit the Loveland Arts Council at www.lovelandartscouncil.com.
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