The rezoning of a Mad River Twp. property along Dayton-Springfield Road from residential to industrial was recommended by the county’s rural zoning commission after a public hearing Wednesday.

The unanimous recommendation came with some conditions after several Enon and Mad River Twp. officials and landowners near there expressed concerns about the environment and effects several types of businesses could have on the community.

The majority of the approximately 15-acre tract is located within the village of Enon wellhead protection area’s 5-year time-of-travel and is bound by residential areas to the west and across Dayton-Springfield Road to the south.

Officials and residents asked the commission to consider exclusions on landfills and auto recovery and scrapping business that have been known to pollute drinking water, in a addition to criminal corrections and adult-oriented businesses that could lower property values.

Company officials have said they have no buyers or developers lined up, but have requested the rezoning to make the property more marketable.

Landowner Paula Rich, who has residential property on the south side of Dayton-Springfield Road just southeast of the property, said the rezoning should not be allowed at all.

She called the rezoning to industrial use a mistake, and said that once “the granddaddy of them all (rezoning)” is done, there’s no turning back.

One nearby resident and a land contract owner, however, favored development on the property.

“This zoning request seems to fit all the requirements. I would urge you to approved this particular request,” Enon resident Jim Matthews said. “Those of us who are getting older apply for homestead exemption. We take money out of the township as far as taxes go. We need some business.”

A developer, if the conditional-use industrial zoning is approved, must also abide by environmental and business rules and regulations set by several federal, state and local entities, including the village if it were to pass official policy on land use within the wellhead area.

The Source Water Protection Committee, a partnership between the village and township, is reworking existing draft policy with the hopes to have it approved within the next several months, Enon Mayor Tim Howard said.

The final decision will be made by county commissioners after they have a public hearing. A date for the hearing had yet to be set Tuesday morning.

The Clark County Planning Commission also recommended the rezoning at their meeting last week.