San Mar Gale, Ohio facts for kids
San Mar Gale was a planned community in Warren County, Ohio, United States. It was going to be a large new development with more than 2,500 homes. The company behind this big idea was the Hines-Griffin Land Development Company. The plan was approved in 2006, but it was later cancelled in 2011.
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What Was San Mar Gale?
San Mar Gale was designed to be a "planned unit development." This means it wasn't just a group of houses. It was a whole community planned out from the start. The design included a central area for businesses and different types of housing. This would have created a complete new town.
Approval and Cancellation
The plan for San Mar Gale was approved in February 2006. This approval came from the Warren County Commissioners. These are local leaders who make decisions for the county. Some people in the community wanted to challenge this decision. So, they put the approval up for a public vote. In November 2006, voters agreed with the Commissioners' decision. Construction was supposed to start in 2007. However, the project was officially cancelled in February 2011.
The Land and Its Name
The land for San Mar Gale covered a huge area. It was about 3,329 acres (about 13.5 square kilometers). This land used to be a group of farms. They were owned by a man named Ralph J. Stolle. He was a well-known inventor and businessman in Warren County.
How San Mar Gale Got Its Name
The name "San Mar Gale" came from Ralph J. Stolle's farm. He named his farm by combining parts of his daughters' names. His daughters were Sandy, Mary Jo, and Gail. So, the name San Mar Gale was a special family tribute.
The Farm's History
Before Ralph J. Stolle passed away in 1996, the farm was used for research. It was a special farm focused on milk production. There was even a private airport on the farm called San Mar Gale. Its airport code was OH79. This airport was open until the late 1990s, but it is now closed.
Where Was San Mar Gale Going to Be?
San Mar Gale was planned for a large area between two towns. These towns are Lebanon and Oregonia. It would have covered a big part of this region.
Community Boundaries
The planned community had clear boundaries. To the south, it was bordered by Wilmington Road. To the east, it was near North Nixon Camp Road, Emmons Road, and the Little Miami River. The northern boundary was mostly the Wayne Township line. A small part of the development would have crossed into that township. Shoemaker Road was also part of the northern border. To the west, it was bordered by Liberty-Keuter Road. The main business area was planned for where Oregonia, Emmons, and Waynesville Roads meet.
Community Services
If San Mar Gale had been built, it would have been part of the Lebanon City School District. This means children living there would have gone to schools in Lebanon.
Mail and Utilities
The eastern part of the community would have received mail from the Oregonia post office (zip code 45054). The western part would have used the Lebanon post office (zip code 45036). Telephone service would have been provided by Embarq. Public water was planned to come from the Western Water Company. The developers also planned to build a sewer system. They intended to either give the sewer operations to Warren County or run it as a private service.
Funding the Community
Part of the funding for San Mar Gale was going to come from a special program. This program is called "new community authority." It allowed the costs of building important things like roads and pipes (called "infrastructure") to be added to the property taxes of the new homeowners. This helped pay for the big upfront costs of building a new town.
