During the past 18 years, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of western Hamilton County has grown by 12.7 percent. Over the next 20 years, county officials predict the same area's population will grow by 32.4 percent, under a plan the county commissioners endorsed today. In the year 2020, with the Western Hamilton County Collaborative Plan as county policy, there should be 48,776 more people in the area than its estimated 150,608 population in 1998. That's 2.8 times more people thanmoved into the area between 1980 and last year. "Support the plan because it does represent a plan that was recommended to us by a steering committee that we put together," Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus said. Said Commissioner John Dowlin, "I support it as well, particularly as it is clarified by the regional planning commission and accepted by us. This is a guide. The ultimate zoning decisions and land-use decisions are made by the political subdivisions. And in only those few cases, it comes back to use for the zoning."

Had county officials not endorsed the plan, and simply let development occur at will across the area, its population would swell by 34.4 percent, county planners and a consultant have predicted.

The difference between those two options is only 2,981 people over 20 years, according to Hamilton County planners.

On the other hand, if the county had chosen the "low-growth" alternative that was one of four suggested by a county consultant, the area's population would grow by only 16.8 percent, or about 23,000 fewer people than under the proposed plan.

The county's three pro-development commissioners did not choose that option, which was not endorsed by the county's Regional Planning Commission.

If the commissioners had chosen the most aggressive-growth option, planners estimate western Hamilton County - defined as Colerain, Crosby, Green, Harrison, Miami and Whitewater townships, as well as the city of Harrison and villages of Addyston, Cleves and North Bend - would have a 215,818 population in 2020. That's 43.3 percent higher than today.

Some people contend the plan they approved will allow the county to grow too quickly.

"Your problem is you don't love the land," Green Township resident Clare Johnson told the commissioners in a letter today. "Your plan has no environmental safeguards, no planned greenspaces or open space. You are leaving that to the developers who gleefully point to your plan and say: 'This is a plan for developers of Western Hamilton County.'

"Your plan calls for building on half of the west side's 27,000 acres of farmland," Ms. Johnson added. "And, your plan calls for creating a pathetic 25 acres of parkland a year - at most."

While the difference between the proposed plan and "no plan" is smaller than 3,000 people over 20 years, county planners note there are vast differences in where that growth would occur: Harrison Township's population would be more than double its current size in 2020, compared to more than triple its number of residents without a plan. Under the plan, the township's residents would rise from 4,893 to 11,602. Without any plan, it would grow by 230 percent, to 16,172. Crosby Township'spopulation would more than double, from 2,756 people to 6,616 by 2020. But without any plan, the township's population would be almost eight times bigger than it is now - at 21,656 people. Green Township, on the other hand, would experience double the gr owth under the plan that officials predict would happen with no plan. Officials expect the township's population to swell by 16.6 percent with the plan, compared to 7.4 percent without. Colerain Township, likewise, would see greater growth - 26.1 percentmore people by 2020, instead of 19.3 percent.

Whitewater Township would see more growth - its population ballooning by 57.2 percent, instead of 44.7 percent. Miami Township's population would nearly double, increasing by 95.1 percent, instead of 40.4 pe rcent without a plan. The combined areas of Addyston, Cleves and North Bend would see 40 percent growth with a plan, and 6.4 percent without a plan, according to numbers provided by the county.

Copyright 1999 The Cincinnati Post