SCIOTO TOWNSHIP, OH — The Scioto Township Board of Trustees had scheduled a special meeting for the evening of Thursday, June 19, to address mounting concerns over a proposed 344-acre annexation request along Gibson Road by the Village of Commercial Point. The proposed development has stirred significant opposition among township officials and residents, who fear the community is unprepared for the rapid growth such an expansion would bring.
The decision to hold the special meeting follows a tense discussion between township trustees, Commercial Point, and Pickaway County Commissioners. Trustee Burt Fannin voiced serious concerns about the strain the proposed development would place on local infrastructure in an April Commissioners meeting.
“I don’t think they’re comprehending the capacity of what’s going to happen and how fast this thing’s going to change,” Fannin said, noting that Gibson Road would require costly upgrades to handle increased traffic. He also expressed concern about fire and EMS readiness, despite the township recently receiving a new emergency squad vehicle. Fannin emphasized that the development’s impact would ripple across public services—including schools already facing overcrowding, levy struggles, and school bus traffic issues.
Trustee Ralph Wolfe echoed those concerns during the Commissoner meeting in April, saying the township’s current infrastructure is not equipped to manage such fast-paced growth. “It’s not just about housing,” Wolfe said. “This involves fire, EMS, roads, schools—our entire way of life.”
During a packed 3:30 p.m. session, legal counsel handled a good portion of the meeting he explained the limited power townships have in these matters. Under Ohio Revised Code §709.023, Expedited Type 2 Annexations allow property owners to petition for annexation into a municipality without needing approval from either the township or municipality, as long as all owners agree. Legal counsel clarified that the only possible area of resistance could relate to a shared road between the county and Commercial Point—but even that might be resolved through a road maintenance agreement with the village.
Afterward, the trustees opened the floor to public comment. Several residents voiced opposition to the annexation, citing concerns ranging from increased traffic congestion and strained emergency services to overtaxed schools and the potential loss of the area’s small-town character.
Some residents simply expressed heartbreak at the potential transformation of the rural community they’ve called home for generations.
In the end, trustees concluded the meeting without a decision, marking the second time they’ve delayed action on the matter, but the Township must act within 25 days to have opposition. A final statement is expected at the next scheduled meeting. Afterwards, the vote will go to the County Commissioners who voted it down in April, but may allow it to pass this time due to the legal constraints of the annexation.
Trustees asked people who were opposed to read about this special annexation and understand the legal constraints it holds against Townships and even Commissioners to oppose it.
