The Boone County Planning Commission recommended denying a zone change request Wednesday that would make way for single and multi-family residential units because of the potential impacts on traffic, congestion and density.
The zone change request came from Crestview Hills-based developer Charter Commercial, which sought to change the zoning designation of 44 acres in Burlington. Charter Commercial requested a change from the land’s current designation, which requires it to be used for low-density residential dwellings that uphold the character of a typical suburban neighborhood.
If approved, Charter Commercial would have the go-ahead to build Hickory Point and Poplar Point Apartments, a development featuring 139 attached single-family residences and 157 multi-family residential units. Blue Ash-based Brookstone Homes was the homebuilder selected for the project.
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.
Understanding NKY’s housing shortage
“One of the points that we would like to make is that we do feel that the map amendment does comply with some with the overall goals and objectives of the comp plan,” Charter Commercial’s Pat Manger said during the planning commission meeting on Wednesday.
Charter Commercial’s plan has received pushback from nearby homeowners in prior meetings. During a public hearing on Aug. 21, residents questioned everything from the development’s potential impact on traffic to neighborhood safety. The 44 acres of land sits in the middle of three different Burlington neighborhoods: The Cliffs, Valley Creek Farms and Shaker Run.
On Wednesday, the planning commission recommended the denial of Charter Commercial’s zone change request, citing concerns over traffic, congestion and density.
Corrin Gulick, vice chairwoman of the planning commission, said she was concerned over the development’s potentially negative impact on KY-237.
“I voted no for this particular development because I have a serious concern about the connection to 237 and if this is something that we already approved and if I voted for it, I was wrong, because this now takes streets that were local and make them operate as if it is a collector,” she said.
Jeff Schaefer, a resident of the nearby Valley Creek Farms subdivision, told the Boone County Planning Commission he, along with other homeowners in the area, had concerns about how the development could strain the surrounding neighborhoods and schools.
“The concerns that we have over this planned development are numerous, from not even meeting the criteria used to evaluate the zoning change request to attempting to place 300 rental units in between established single-family communities, they have completely disregarded the residents of Valley Creek Farms, Oak Brook communities and the bordering landowners,” Schaefer said.
Chairman Charlie Rolfson said nearby homeowners went through the proper channels to voice their concerns regarding the development.
“You had the plan that when you built your houses, you did your homework. You thought, ‘okay, there’s going to be all single-family residents behind me,” Rolfson said. “So I feel for you all because you did your homework, you did what you were supposed to do, or what we asked people to do when they come before us.”
Next up, the planning commission’s recommendation for denial heads to the Boone County Fiscal Court for consideration. The legislative body can either vote to accept it or overturn it.
