Campbell County is working toward a complete revitalization of its comprehensive plan.
A comprehensive plan serves as a guide for the preservation and future development of land. The current plan was put together in 2008, with the goals and objectives updated in 2015. With significant changes happening in the county since 2015 and with changes on the horizon, Campbell County Planning and Zoning Director Cindy Minter said it was time to look at the plan.
The comprehensive plan covers unincorporated Campbell County and Crestview, Silver Grove, Melbourne, Southgate and Woodlawn, which are cities composing the Campbell County and Municipal Planning and Zoning Commission.
The county is currently in the early data-gathering stages, and the plan is not expected to be completed until 2025.
Campbell County is working with Michael Baker International, which provides engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management.
Minter pointed out some changes in the county that caused the need for an update, such as the Northern Kentucky Area Development District housing study and the extension of KY 536, which connects the AA Highway and US 27.
“We look for major changes that have occurred throughout that can really trigger a need to look more intently at any one component of it,” Minter said. “One item that had been flagged recently is the Northern Kentucky housing study, which was done by the AD District and has identified some areas where we need to strengthen our housing stock availability. And that’s really one of the items we want to be aware of as we go through the study.”
Michael Baker Planning Department Manager Karen Mohammadi said they understand that there is a big issue with the lack of what is commonly referred to as “middle housing,” or more affordable housing.
“The average house prices everywhere, not just in Campbell County but everywhere, are just really making homeownership unaffordable,” Mohammadi said. “A lot of the apartments and townhomes that are being built are also not affordable for people who may want to rent, so we’ll be looking at the different types of strategies that could be incorporated that might increase that type of housing in the county to support keeping workers or bringing workers into the county.”
The progress made on the extension of KY 536, which Minter said appears to be close to getting funded, was another significant change the county could see.
This project extends Pond Creek Road from US 27 to the AA Highway via the KY 10/KY 1997 corridor, forming the new KY 536. The project is listed as an infrastructure legislative priority for the county, which has requested $79.5 million for it.
“Need to look at not only housing but employment bases,” Minter said. “Do we have all the infrastructure in play to balance the needs of our community?”
Other ongoing notable developments in the county that Minter mentioned are Cold Spring Pointe in Cold Spring at the AA Highway and US 27 across from Meijer and the recently approved Sunrock development in Southgate.
The availability of existing and planned infrastructure, Minter said, is a key component in determining the development and redevelopment of land. Those things include:
- Stormwater management improvements throughout the region, particularly along the Ohio and Licking Rivers, will continue.
- Requirements for developments to provide onsite stormwater management to protect neighbors and influence the use of the sites. Residential clusters and planned unit developments are common as a result.
- Infill development may be highly desirable but can also necessitate improvements in utility capacity.
- New sanitary sewer capacity near US 27 and AA Highway will result changes north of Alexandria.
- High-speed internet access was added throughout the county.
Resident participation is also part of the plan creation. The first resident outreach for the update will happen this summer, but there will be multiple opportunities throughout this year and in the first half of 2025. A public survey will also be sent out.
Mohammadi said one main aspect of the plan is gathering community input and incorporating those recommendations.
“A big part of that is not just looking at what is going on in the county today and where do we think those trends are heading,” Mohammadi said. “But also, how do people feel about these different elements? How do they feel about housing? How do they feel about transportation?”
One other aspect considered during the plan update is a county’s typography.
“The topography will be part of the considerations because it helps us understand how future growth might occur in the county and where it’s not likely to occur,” Mohammadi said.
Other considerations that will go into the plan, according to Minter:
- Preserving green space and agricultural land remains a concern for a quality environment throughout the county.
- Commercial and retail demand and opportunities continue. Tools to promote quality investments and adaptive reuse need to evolve. The inclusion of green space and balanced parking needs continue to be a topic of discussion.
- The policies, procedures, regulations and tools used by various agencies throughout the county help define the county’s vision.
