The Boone County Planning Commission approved a zone change that encompasses portions of three properties, eventually making way for the proposed The Shoppes at Hebron Pointe development.
The vote took place at a regularly scheduled planning commission meeting on Wednesday, July 3.
Pending final approval from the Boone County Fiscal Court, the request changes the zoning designation of 53 acres of land from Residential and Commercial to Commercial/Planned Development. The request was made by Midland Atlantic Properties — a Cincinnati-based firm that specializes in grocery-anchored mixed-used developments.
“The committee concluded that the proposed zoning map amendment, along with this concept plan, meets the spirit of the Graves Road study and meets a significant amount of the recommendations contained within that study,” Boone County Zoning Director Michael Schwartz said.
The prospective development site is located at the northeast and northwest corners of the Graves Road and Worldwide Boulevard intersection. The change also affects portions of neighboring properties at 2477 Treetop Lane, 2355 Water Tower Dr., and 2338 Williams Road.
Larry and Christina Barnes, Roy Smith, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and KJCA LLC each own a separate property within the 53-acre development site, according to Boone County property records.
Midland Atlantic plans to develop a 50,325-square-foot anchor grocery store, along with four smaller retail spaces ranging from 22,080 to 3,200 square feet. The grocery store’s parking lot will contain 276 parking stalls. In addition, a 3,195-square-foot drive-thru restaurant will be built next to the retail spaces.
The plans also call for a 5,200-square-foot convenience store, an 8,400-square-foot retail store, and a 4,300-square-foot restaurant.
There’s speculation that the anchor grocery store will include a Publix, although there’s been no confirmation as of yet. Midland Atlantic is the same developer behind the Cold Spring Pointe development, which will feature a Publix.
Planning Commission Chairman Charlie Rolfson asked if Midland Atlantic was able to share the names of potential tenants with the commission. Midland Atlantic Development Manager Clayton Riney said he “cannot announce” the names of the potential tenants yet.
Although Riney couldn’t share the names of tenants, he joked that he might have an inkling of what the anchor store might be.
“I think I know what it rhymes with,” Rolfsen said. “It might be the third one in Boone County, right?”
Publix has officially confirmed two other Boone County locations – one in Florence, and another in Walton.
When asked about a potential groundbreaking date, Riney shared Midland Atlantic’s tentative timeline for the project.
“We will plan to close early ’25 and start construction thereafter,” he said. “It would be an early ’26 opening.”