JEFFERSON TWP — Township supervisors voted unanimously against taking part in a proposed multi-municipal comprehensive plan during their monthly meeting Monday night, Feb. 11.

The comprehensive plan, which was initially proposed in October 2024, is intended to unite multiple municipalities across the southeast part of Butler County in a single vision of the future. Jefferson, Buffalo, Clinton and Winfield townships, as well as the borough of Saxonburg, were invited to participate.

Township Supervisor John Cypher said the plan did not fit the township’s needs or wants, as it largely depended upon the township having zoning — something Jefferson Township does not currently have.

“We tried back in the ‘90s to get zoning,” Cypher said. “It just didn’t happen.”

Township Supervisor Lois Rankin said she did not agree with what she felt was the comprehensive plan’s vision for the future of the area.

“They want to bring more businesses, more building, this and that,” Rankin said. “We don't have the infrastructure in this township to do anything (like that).”

To further her point, Rankin mentioned the proposed Sparrows development, a planned 20,000-square-foot, multiuse residential and commercial development from Charter Homes which would feature 627 homes. Rankin said she wants to prevent Jefferson Township’s rural character from being erased by housing developments such as Sparrows.

“I don’t want to turn Jefferson Township into that,” Rankin said. “I’ve fought hard to protect the farmland.”

At least three of the five municipalities who were initially invited have confirmed their intention to participate. Freeport borough, located in Armstrong County, also showed interest in participating.

Discussions for the comprehensive plan were spearheaded largely by Scott Docherty, president of steel manufacturer CID Associates.

In late 2024, Docherty made donations of $1,000 to each of the townships that were invited to participate in the plan, including Jefferson Township. During Monday night’s meeting, township manager Leo Rosenbauer said the money is still theirs regardless of whether they agreed to participate.

“Either you're opting in and using it for the comprehensive plan, or any other use you feel necessary to use it on,” Rosenbauer told the supervisors. “It was ‘either-or’, and not specifically for the comprehensive plan.”

All three supervisors, along with Rosenbauer, declined to comment after the meeting.