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He now plans to develop most of the land, including building about 850 homes.
The project, which also would include a commercial area with shops, some parkland and hiking trails, could begin within 18 months, Kraner said yesterday. Homes would be priced from $250,000 to $1 million.
"I gave Granville an opportunity, and they passed over it," Kraner said. "I have heard for years about this land and what am I going to do with it. It’s too valuable land to let it sit there."
Voters on Tuesday rejected a 20-year, 2.8-mill bond issue to buy 579 acres of the farm for $10 million. The owner of a $100,000 home would have paid $86 more a year in property taxes.
The plan called for parkland, hiking trails and other recreational uses on that land, which would have become a buffer against development.
Ron Sheldon of the Granville Green Space Preservation Committee, the group that led the bond-issue campaign, echoed Kraner’s thoughts about the defeat.
Sheldon cast some blame for the bond loss on voter confusion that he said was caused by mailings to township residents from opponents who questioned the sale price. Opponents also criticized the purchase agreement for allowing Kraner to finance the bond package and earn the interest money.
The purchase agreement was reached in September but was contingent on voter approval.
"I’m very disappointed," said Sheldon, who also is a member of the Granville school board. "When he starts building all those homes, I’m going to ask him to give space for schools."
Much of the farm is in the Granville school district. It’s too early to tell what effect a large residential development might have on the school system, he said.
tsheehan@dispatch.com