My Accomplishments as a West Chester Township Trustee!

Mark Welch has Experience!

As a West Chester Township Trustee since 2014, Mark’s conservative, no-nonsense leadership has helped secure West Chester’s status as one of the “Best Places to Live in America” multiple times, the Best Place to Live in Ohio, Best Community to do Business in Ohio four years in a row and Fortune Magazine Best Place to Live for Families in 2023!

The Regional Economic Development Initiative of Cincinnati (REDI), one of six JobsOhio regional partners, has been consistently recognized as one of the top economic development organizations by Site Selection magazine, and from 2018 – 2021 REDI Cincinnati named West Chester “One of the Top 3 Winningest Communities”!

Then in my last term, REDI Cincinnati says this about West Chester: “From 2022-2024 West Chester Township had the 2nd most project wins in the REDI Cincinnati 15 county Cincinnati Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).”

In his most recent term from January 1, 2022 to present, Mark has continued to deliver on promises, focusing on business-friendly zoning reforms and economic development victories that keep West Chester the best place to do business in Ohio.

My Accomplishments as a West Chester Trustee (2022–Present)!

Zoning Accomplishments

Mark has championed zoning changes that balance community needs with economic growth, streamlining processes for developers while protecting residents – making West Chester even more attractive for investment!

• Promised to SUPPORT BUSINESS-FRIENDLY ZONING FOR MAJOR PROJECTS – DONE – Approved zone change for the 332-unit luxury Ellington at Union Centre apartments in June 2023, creating upscale housing options for millennials and downsizers to support our growing workforce!
• Promised to FACILITATE RETAIL EXPANSIONS WITH COMMUNITY INPUT – DONE – Led approval of the $100 million Kroger Marketplace zoning change in October 2023, including modern amenities like a drive-thru pharmacy and fuel center, while addressing noise concerns for neighbors!
• Promised to PREPARE FOR EMERGING INDUSTRIES RESPONSIBLY – DONE – Voted for a 360-day moratorium on recreational marijuana sales in December 2023 to develop smart zoning regulations, ensuring safe, regulated business opportunities that could boost our tax base!
• Promised to ENABLE FINANCIAL SERVICES GROWTH – DONE – Supported zoning plan change for a new Fifth Third Bank branch at West Chester Plaza in September 2025, enhancing infrastructure for local businesses!

Business Development Victories

Mark’s efforts have driven job creation, small business support, and major investments, adding wealth and expanding the tax base without new levies – keeping West Chester competitive and sustainable!

• Promised to EMPOWER SMALL BUSINESSES – DONE – Launched the $100,000 Spark Small Business Grant Program in December 2022, funding facade improvements along U.S. Route 42 to revitalize corridors and create jobs!
• Promised to ATTRACT HIGH-TECH EXPANSIONS – DONE – Celebrated CTL Aerospace’s acquisition of advanced technology in March 2023, enabling 24/7 operations and new hires in aerospace manufacturing!
• Promised to PROMOTE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS – DONE – Participated in the groundbreaking for Village North in April 2025, a walkable retail and residential project that draws visitors and boosts local commerce!
• Promised to REPURPOSE SITES FOR FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT – DONE – Approved redevelopment of a former Kroger into Fun City Adventure Park in July 2025, creating jobs and tourism revenue!
• Promised to INVEST IN SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE – DONE – Backed rooftop solar installation on the Administration Building in July 2025, saving costs to reinvest in business services!
• Promised to SUPPORT COMPETITIVE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS – DONE – Updated township pay and benefits in July 2025 to attract top talent, ensuring efficient services for businesses!

These victories reflect Mark’s commitment to listening, caring, and delivering results that make West Chester the economic epicenter of the Cincinnati-Dayton region. With over 3,600 businesses, low unemployment, and ongoing growth, West Chester thrives under conservative leadership!

My Accomplishments as a West Chester Trustee (2014–2021)!

• Promised to make ZONING IN West Chester MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY, ESPECIALLY TO SMALL BUSINESSES – DONE – Appointed Business Friendly, Win:Win minded individuals to the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals!
• Promised TO STOP ANONYMOUS ZONING COMPLAINTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO FACE OUR ACCUSERS – DONE!
• Promised GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN WC FINANCES – DONE – Championed TOTAL Transparency of township revenues, spending and service performance and after three years of research and analysis purchased OpenGov Smart Government Platform and OpenGov Open Data that provides both quantitative AND qualitative information! Launching October 2017.
• Promised GREATER POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY – DONE – Championed the purchase of Body Worn Cameras for our Police Department and after four years of research and investigation purchased the Axon Enterprises solution (with 5 year maintenance contract) for $151,999.05 at our September 26, 2017 meeting.
• Higher Functioning Zoning that’s Business Friendly!
• Streets of West Chester Revitalized – Civic Centre Blvd extension opened earlier this year costing $5 million and connecting to Allen Rd. Streets of West Chester is emerging as West Chester’s Entertainment District.
• Partnered with BCEO Engineer, Greg Wilkens to design and construct the Union Centre Blvd I-75 Interchange with the improved Divergent Diamond Interchange to more safely, move more traffic on and off I-75. 
• Nearly 1,500 acres (1,469) of new shopping, dining and entertainment amenities have been developed (or are under construction) in West Chester since 2014.
• Negotiated with Continental Properties, Menomonee Falls, WI to re-imagine their proposed garden-style apartment project in the West Chester Central Business District, to a development that was new, upscale and ‘urbanesque’. Continental totally redesigned the apartment offering, spending more than $7M on the project design and construction.
• Pushed back on the Becket Kroger Marketplace developer to protect the residents north of Tylersville Rd in Providence Manor by demanding the green space buffering be installed in Phase I, not Phase II.
• Voted against the $13M bike paths proposed by the Miami-to-Miami Trails and the Green Umbrella Group in May 2018, arguing that an investment of that magnitude should be on the ballot and approved by the people.
• Sold the Station Road Schoolhouse to the Historical Society for $1.00 eliminating a non-performing asset from our books and giving the Historical Society a home and a place to preserve our rich past.
• In October 2018 discovered that our insurance provider, Aetna, was compelled by the Affordable Care Act to offer medical coverage for unconditional abortions on demand. Legal research revealed that Ohio had passed legislation that prohibited the compelled coverage and limited the scope of abortion coverage to health of the mother, rape and incest. If the original motion had been approved, West Chester would have been breaking Ohio law! Township insurance was modified and we were compliant with the law.
• Trustees approved an agreement in April 2019 with the National Research Center to conduct a National Citizen Survey of West Chester to find out what residents thought of their township and offer recommendations for improvements.
• Approved $20M funding in May 2019 for the Butler County Engineers to start construction of the Union Centre Boulevard Diverging Diamond Interchange Improvement.
• Money allocated from the 747 TIF and construction was approved to replace the outdated Fire Station 73 on Duff  with a new one. Targeted completion is 3rd qtr 2021.

My objectives are:

• Keep West Chester Township Competitive, Marketable and Sustainable.
• Create New Jobs and Retain Existing Jobs through Business Development.
• Strengthen Schools with Increased Taxation Derived from Commercial and Manufacturing Growth.
  • In 2024 West Chester funded Lakota Schools with $115,000,000. This amount was 78% of the total funding from local jurisdictions, i.e. West Chester and Liberty Townships.
• Shine an Honest Light on Township Spending.
• Keep West Chester as One of the “Best Places to Live in America.