The Butler County Area Agency on Aging’s building at Sunnyview is falling into disrepair. The agency is looking for a new office to call home.

BUTLER TWP — Butler County may be looking to sell some disused property along Sunnyview Circle in the future, but it will require some changes to the original subdivision plan beforehand.

The Butler Township Planning Commission voted unanimously during its meeting Tuesday evening, Oct. 6, to table a subdivision of Butler County’s property on Sunnyview Circle.

According to the county’s geographic information system map, the parcel in question was 4.25 acres before the subdivision and features two vacant office buildings. The buildings once housed district court and the county Area Agency on Aging office, but both have since relocated.

The county proposed dividing the property along Sunnyview Circle, creating a roughly 1.4-acre lot containing the buildings and a roughly 2.9-acre lot with a parking lot.

According to previous Butler Eagle reporting, county commissioners voted to ratify the subdivision application during a Sept. 9 meeting in case the county decides to sell the buildings.

Commissioner Leslie Osche said at that meeting the county no longer needs the buildings, which are “not in the best of shape.”

However, township zoning officer Jesse Hines questioned if the plan accounted for both the lack of parking spaces on the building side of the lot and compliance with the township’s sewage requirements on the mostly empty side.

“Maybe the Sunnyview property will buy it beside them or maybe a different, prospective person will want to buy it if this plan were approved,” Hines said. “But where are they going to park; and how does that comply with our zoning ordinance for parking?”

Nathan Werner, assistant director of planning and project manager for the county, said they would consider pursuing a nonbuilding declaration for the empty lot to account for the lack of sewage.

Hines said that is an option, but reminded Werner nonbuilding lots have their own list of requirements and approvals.

“There is plenty of capacity at the sewage plant to provide service to the area. The future is a long way out and that parcel’s going to exist for forever,” Hines said.

As for parking, Hines asked why the county decided the buildings and parking lot would be in two different lots. Werner said the county uses the lot for county vehicles, such as the sheriff’s office and Children & Youth Services.

Township solicitor Rebecca Black suggested the county set up an easement for the lot so it can continue using it even if it is sold.

“If you sold the parking with the buildings, then the easement would be easier going back to you because that’s held by the county then. That’s not something I think the new owner would be able to just take away,” she said.

Ultimately, Werner said he will take the plan back to the county to decide what direction it will take before it is reconsidered at a later planning commission meeting.