CAMPAIGN ISSUE #1

Maintaining Property Values

As an elected Trustee of Howland Township, I will be working directly with the township’s zoning, public works, police, and fire leaders. It is my duty to serve as the community’s legislative and executive body, ensuring that the betterment of the town and its residents is at the forefront of every single action and decision. Succeeding as Trustee means providing practical levers for the parties listed above to safeguard neighborhood stability and home values.

After extensive research and discussion with city officials, business owners, and other figures and persons of influence in the community, I have developed a comprehensive plan for maintaining property value across Howland Township.

The approach consists of 4 key components:

How do we do that?

  • We focus on controlling and keeping township roads in good repair. We can adopt access-management rules that preserve traffic flow and safety—both key drivers of desirability and price.

  • As Trustee, I will establish and enforce township zoning, appoint the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, and coordinate on the Comprehensive Plan—tools that prevent incompatible uses, guide quality development, and support consistent property values.

  • We work to strengthen quality of life—parks, safety, and upkeep—which research links to higher nearby home values and a stronger tax base. An active town is an attractive town.

  • We can require and oversee right-of-way permitting and coordination for utility work, aligning projects with community standards and minimizing damage or disruption that can depress values.

How do we know it will work?

How can we be sure that implementing such efforts would actually succeed in sustaining property values? Simple—it’s worked before! Ohio has seen several relevant success stories in recent years that capitalized on the strategies listed above, even for our very own city of Howland.

  • The Golden Triangle Infrastructure Improvement Plan—advanced in collaboration with Howland’s trustees and regional partners—secured federal funding totaling $6M (including a $2.7M EDA award) for targeted road and access upgrades in the township’s busiest industrial area, removing barriers to growth and supporting the employer base that underpins local home values.

  • West Chester Township’s long-running community development strategy of planning, infrastructure, and business-district investment has produced nearly $4B in new investment and tens of millions of square feet of construction—an approach that expanded the tax base and reinforced area desirability.

  • According to independent analyses by the Trust for Public Land, proximity to well-maintained parks and trails is associated with measurable home-value gains and increased local revenue—evidence that trustee-led park and open-space investments can pay off for residents.

What does it all mean?

Put simply, by pairing disciplined infrastructure stewardship with thoughtful land-use policy, transparent utility coordination, and quality-of-life investments, we can help maintain (and grow) property values while keeping the community stable, attractive, and prosperous.