Boone County is nearing the full approval of a concept development plan and zone change that would allow for a Wawa convenience store and Longnecks Sports Grill in Hebron.
The prospective development in question is a 4.1-acre plot of land in Hebron located slightly north of the North Bend Road and Cougar Path intersection. Covington-based Anchor Properties, a firm specializing in mixed-use developments, is the property developer. BRG Hebron Station LLC is the current owner of the property, according to Boone County property records.
The fiscal court must finalize all zone changes in Boone County. On Tuesday, the fiscal court conducted a first reading of an ordinance that would authorize Anchor Properties’ zone change request.
In March, Anchor Properties sought the Boone County Planning Commission’s approval for a special sign district and acceptance of its concept development plan, which the legislative body eventually unanimously approved.
Anchor Properties’ concept plan would allow for the construction of a 5,915-square-foot Wawa convenience store with eight gas pumps and a 6,626-square-foot Longnecks Sports Grill with an outside patio. The project’s official name is Hebron Station. Anchor Properties has a track record in Boone County, including working on the Florence Heights and Richwood Commons mixed-use developments.
Concept plans provided at the commission meeting outlined that the proposed Wawa would have 45 parking spaces, two of which are required handicap spaces, along with eight gas pumps.
Longnecks Sports Grill would have 160 parking spaces, six of which are required handicap spaces, and a 2,067-square-foot outdoor patio facing North Bend Road.
Anchor Properties’ request for a zoning map amendment is to add a special sign district to the current designation. Under the Boone County Planning and Zoning code, a special sign district allows for modifying regulations and sign requirements within the district’s geographic outline. A special sign district often pertains to a specific business development, shopping district or tourist attraction.
Boone County’s Zoning Director, Michael Schwartz, told the fiscal court that the property was rezoned to Commercial-2/Planned Development in October 2022 in order to make way for an apartment complex. Boone County’s 2040 Future Land Use map designates the site for commercial development.
“As part of that, one of the conditions was that this area that is to be the commercial component had to come back through the public hearing process,” Schwartz said.
Jonathan Wocher, a planner with McBride Dale Clairon in Cincinnati who represented Anchor Properties and BRG Hebron Station LLC at the fiscal court meeting, said the developer had followed the proper protocols to get the concept plan approved.
“We feel that this is going to be a quality development,” Wocher said. “It’s going to fit well into the overall plan that was approved in 2022.”
Boone County Commissioner Cathy Flaig expressed concern that the development could omit light and noise that would negatively impact neighboring property owners.
“The lot itself – what kind of buffer is there? What are you doing for the residents beside it,” she asked.
Schwartz responded that if approved, Anchor Properties would be responsible for providing a site development plan and photometric plan to ensure it complies with Boone County’s zoning regulations.
“Should this be approved, individually or collectively, they’re going to have to come in with a major site plan and they’re going to have to show us a photometric plan if they’re going to have outside lighting and how they’re going to treat that to make sure that they meet the requirements of the zoning regulations which is no more than one-foot candle at the property line,” Schwartz said.
Regarding buffering, Wocher said Anchor Properties plans to install an opaque fence and increase mounding to mitigate noise for neighboring property owners.
