The City Council of Wilder has decided to table its decision on both the stage one approval and zone change for The Overlook at Sunrock development, proposed by Fischer Homes.
At a Wilder Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on June 11, both the stage one plan and zone change were approved, passing it onto city council for a vote.
Chairman of Fischer Homes, Greg Fischer, presented his proposed plan again in front of council, at its meeting Monday evening, addressing questions and concerns brought up during the planning and zoning meeting, including water draining, geotechnical and traffic concerns.
“Stormwater was another big point of concern,” Fischer said. “Each one of the detention ponds is going to collect water like a funnel, so it will take the water in and slowly release it out.”
A part of Fischer’s proposed plan is the construction of four detention ponds. These would help reduce and redirect stormwater that may impact Bentwood Hills and other surrounding areas.
Fischer also addressed the traffic concerns that have risen during this process.
Understanding NKY’s housing shortage
A study of housing in Northern Kentucky has revealed troubling trends for housing in the region, with the largest need being for “workforce housing” for households earning between $15 and $25 per hour, with monthly housing costs between $500 and $1,500. The region needs about 3,000 more housing units to provide for people within that income range, according to the study. The demand for one- to two-bedroom rentals and owned properties consistently exceeds their supply, while supply for three and four-bedroom properties consistently exceeds demand. The study suggests that the region needs to build 6,650 housing units to support economic development in the next five years, which equates to 1,330 units per year. Read more here.
“Traffic was another area where questions came up,” Fischer said. “We did get our approval officially on Friday, so we have our traffic study approval from KYTC.”
KYTC, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, is responsible for maintaining and carrying out changes on all Kentucky state roads. With the cabinet’s approval, Fischer will be able to create changes that will help alleviate traffic throughout the proposed three entrance and exit points: Bentwood Hills Drive, Three Mile Road and Moock Road/Fox Chase.
Councilmember Kelly Meiser raised concerns about the narrowness of Three Mile Road, asking if council could add widening the road as a condition of its approval.
“We can’t condition them [Fischer Homes] on property they can’t control,” city administrator Terry Vance said. “A goal maybe, but as a condition, I’m not sure we have that authority.”
After hearing from Fischer, the council decided to table its decision on the stage one plan, with plans to revisit it at its July 1 meeting.
Vance said if council does not approve the stage one plan at its second reading, it will automatically be approved, as it was already approved by planning and zoning, per city law.
Council additionally decided to table the zoning approval to its July meeting, adopting a “record closed style” where no further evidence or considerations will be brought up. Similarly, if council does not take a vote at its second reading, the zoning plan will automatically be approved.
Greg Fischer sits on the Managing Board of LINK nky, which oversees the business operations of LINK but has no say in editorial matters.