The Boone County Planning Commission unanimously approved changes to the Union Marketplace’s concept development plan, allowing the project to proceed.
The planning commission voted on the changes during a regularly scheduled meeting on May 1. Phillip Drees, co-owner of Terrace Holdings, the Northern Kentucky-based real estate developer behind Union Marketplace, submitted the plan change application. Drees was present at the meeting and thanked the commission for their work.
Planning Commission Director Charlie Rolfsen described the details of the development during the meeting.
“The approximate 2.88-acre area is located along the southeast side of US-42 between Braxton Drive and Old Union Road approximately 400 feet southwest Braxton Drive,” Rolfsen said during the meeting. “It is currently zoned Commercial-2/Planned Development (C-2/PD). The submitted request is to allow the construction of a 2,200 square foot building for retail, service or office use.”
The concept development plan changes include adding the 2,200-square-foot building, a free-standing monument sign along US-42, and a driveway connecting the site to the neighboring Kroger. Oberer’s Flowers, a florist with locations in Ohio and Indiana, will be the building’s occupant.
Boone County Zoning Director Michael Schwartz said the commission approved the changes to Union Marketplace’s concept development plan.
“The proposed change of concept plan is consistent with the future land use map with the comprehensive plan which identifies the area for commercial uses and the submitted plan indicates the development of a 2,200-square-foot building addition,” Schwartz said.
The planning commission stipulated that the monument sign along US-42 should be no higher than 8 feet in height, have a sign area no greater than 50 square feet, and not have an electronic message board/panel.
“The committee concluded that the proposed freestanding sign along US-42 is appropriate provided that it was consistent with other freestanding signage along the same side of US-42,” Schwartz said.
Union Marketplace was first announced in December 2022 by Braxton Brewing Company — one of Northern Kentucky’s most prominent breweries. Braxton’s plan was to construct a two-story brewery and taphouse that would also house Dewey’s Pizza. A Graeter’s Scoop Shop was planned to be built across from the brewery.
Other amenities included in Union Marketplace include 20,000 square feet of green space between the two buildings. The addition of one more retail tenant will not diminish that green space.
Since the initial announcement, the Graeter’s has been completed and opened, but little progress has been made regarding the combination of brewery and pizzeria.
In February 2023, the City of Union adopted an ordinance allowing two additional eating and drinking establishments, Braxton and Dewey’s, a central plaza area, and interconnected parking facilities.
Adam Cheney, the other co-owner of Terrace Holdings, presented a revised version of the concept development plan to the planning commission on April 4. Chaney told the commission the developer has an established working relationship with Dewey’s and Graeter’s.
Chaney compared Union Marketplace’s scope and feel to one of Terrace Holdings’ existing commercial complexes – The Pointe – in West Chester, Ohio.
“The concept is going to be very similar to what we’ve done in West Chester,” Chaney said during the April 4 meeting.
