Peebles planned to divide the nearly 15 acres of land into green space and 30 residential lots.
Residents placed Issue 15, a rezoning referendum, on the ballot to prevent the township zoning plan from going through.
Ballot language for the proposed zoning amendment reads as follows: “To amend the zoning of the real property located at 5900 Hithergreen Drive which includes approximately 14.889 acres. The existing zoning for the property is R-4, Single-Family Residential. The proposed amendment would zone the property PD-R, Planned Development Residential for a single-family development. Shall the zoning amendment as adopted by Washington Township be approved?”
A yes vote was for the measure; a no vote was against the measure.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, unofficial results from the Montgomery County Board of Elections showed Issue 15 with 5,630 “no” votes and 2,158 “yes” votes.
Issue 17 is a 4.65-mill Fire/EMS levy, a five-year renewal that does not increase tax rates. The levy costs the owner of a $100,000 home $132 per year.
The levy will generate about $7.96 million in the first year and will fund about 68 percent of the fire department’s operating expenses, according to township officials. It will enable the fire department to maintain a positive balance through 2021.
Unofficial results showed Issue 17 passed easily by a count of 10,018 to 3,004 votes.
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Issue 16 is a five-year recreation replacement levy that increases the millage from 0.7 to 1 mill. The annual cost for the owner of a $100,000 home will now rise from a rate of $21.95 to $35, according to Jacqueline Curl, public information manager for the township.
The levy will generate about $640,800 per year in additional revenue, while providing about $1.84 million in the first year, according to township officials. This is the first millage increase in 25 years. Voters approved the original levy in 1988.
The additional revenue now approved, will help the township expand services to senior citizens at the Rec West Enrichment Center.
Officials say senior programming cost $185,000 in 2017, but the current tax millage was established before the township began providing services at Rec West when the township was tasked with adding services after the Hithergreen Center closed.
Issue 16 passed easily, with unoffical results showing it received 7,852 votes to 5,126.
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