CORRECTION: The original version of this article stated that the construction on Kenton Lands was related to curb cuts. The construction is, in fact, related to a pipe replacement. –LINK nky editorial, July 29, 2024.
Frustrations with road construction on state roads occupied a large portion of the discussion at Saturday’s meeting of the Kenton County mayors group. Specifically, they expressed concern about how construction at access points off state roads affected the property values of adjoining commercial buildings with some arguing that it had the effect of discouraging commercial development.
The topic was broached by Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette, who pointed to a specific property, which formerly housed a Taco Bell, near the intersection of Dixie Highway, state route 25, and Kenton Lands Road. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s pipe replacement construction had closed off the access point Kenton Lands Road, such that the property could only be reached by right turns on and off Dixie Highway.
By Fette’s telling, the construction had shrunk the property’s market value, discouraging redevelopment and leaving the building abandoned.
“What we’re hearing is that it’s going to drop that value of that property down from $1.2 million to about $600,000 to $800,000,” Fette said.
The developers and property owners were not present at the meeting to confirm Fette’s figures, and she did not have contact information for them on hand. LINK nky is in the process reaching out to the owners and developers for additional comment and corroboration. We will update this article once they respond.
Still, frustration with the transportation cabinet is a frequent topic among municipal governments in the region, owing to the fact that there are many state-administered roads running through the counties’ many cities. Common concerns include spotty communication as well as a lack of clarity about the cabinet’s plans and how they might affect local life. Cities have little direct power over what happens to state roads.
“They’re giving up their money,” Fette said of the property, “so that’s how bad of an experience it was.”
Paul Meier, the mayor of Crestview Hills, described a similar situation with a TGI Friday’s on Turkeyfoot Road, which has undergone a similar right-in, right-out only access change. According Meier, the state has been slow in getting the project done, although he did not speak to the construction’s effect on the nearby properties’ values.
Mayor Chris Reinersman of Independence mentioned a similar situation in Ohio along Beechmont Avenue in the early 2000s, where the state authority closed many of the road’s access points.
“They re-did Beechmont corridor, and they took out a lot of access points,” Reinersman said, “and I know people were up in arms about it.”
Property owners can appeal a road closure–Kenton County Planning and Development Services’ Director of Infrastructure Engineering Laura Tenfelde said that a mixed use development at the former Drawbridge Inn site in Fort Mitchell had made an appeal–but cities themselves had less power of appeal, Fette said.
“You can send letters and supporting documents,” recommended Pat Crowley of the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Apartments Association.
“They were ignored,” Fette said.
Representatives from the transportation cabinet did not attend the meeting, but they sent an email statement afterwards.
“Safety for all road users is a top priority for this administration,” the cabinet wrote. “When safety concerns arise, the Transportation Cabinet routinely reviews, and sometimes adjusts, existing access points in an effort to improve safety and mobility for all road users. We will continue to collaborate with city officials and developers about specific roadway safety issues as they occur.”
The next meeting of the Kenton County Mayors Group will take place on Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Elsmere City Building on Dixie Highway.