Butler township commissioners gave final approval for the first phase of the proposed 100-home Highfield Trails development Monday.

After initially requesting to build 113 homes on 39 acres of land off Highfield and South Duffy roads, developer Great Living LLC revised the plan to include 75 homes to be built in phase one, followed by 25 more in phase two.

While the commissioners approved phase one pending some contingencies, mainly dealing with the stormwater and sewage plans of the subdivision, they also gave preliminary approval for phase two at the meeting.

The subdivision received approval from the township's planning commission in an April 6 meeting, but the zoning hearing board denied an appeal from Great Living the next day regarding the number of homes that can be built in the acreage of the subdivision.

Jerry Oliver, who owns Great Living, previously said he may appeal the Common Pleas Court regarding the commission's decision.

Brad Simmons, a representative from Great Living, reviewed the subdivision plan with the commissioners Monday. He said the company has adjusted its plan to fit the township's standards, and 13 acres in the subdivision will be left as open space.

“We've taken this process very seriously,” he said.

Simmons said with final approval received, phase one development will potentially start in June or July, and will take approximately two to three years.

The commission also authorized advertising the township's 2021 paving projects, which includes 13 roads in the region.

The commission also appointed its president, Dave Zarnick, to represent Butler Township in the forming Butler County Council of Governments, with commission member Joe Wiest selected as a secondary representative.