Plans for a new Kroger Marketplace, which would be 122,912 square feet with a fuel center and wine and spirits shop, are moving forward in Alexandria.
The store will be on the east side of US 27, with access coming from a proposed signal point that will align Commercial Circle with Sunset Drive to the west. It will be located on 31.65 acres and represents a $35 million investment from Kroger. The Alexandria Planning and Zoning Commission heard the development plans and zone change requests at a meeting on April 1.
The commission voted unanimously to approve two zone changes. The site plans were approved 6-1, with commissioner Randy Nehus voting no.
Though the planning commission approved the site plans, they did list some conditions regarding the traffic study and the signage plans. The commissioners stated concerns regarding line-of-sight issues turning right out of the fuel center and with the proposed monument sign. The commission also discussed possible issues with having one exit from the store.
“If there’s a wreck right at the exit of the parking lot, there’s a fire truck there, nobody’s getting out,” Nehus said. “There’s just one entrance and one exit, and for that size of a store I would think there should be at least two and not one.”
They also stated concerns about the requested monument sign being two feet higher than their zoning code permits and the number of signs allowed on the fuel canopy.
The conditions requested by the planning commission include:
- The scope of the traffic study be expanded to address line of sight, internal circulation to the site, and possible connectivity to adjacent properties. The study is coming back to the planning commission for further review following the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recommendations.
- The signage plan be amended and resubmitted to the planning commission addressing the fuel canopy signs.
- To allow the development center sign to include fuel pricing not to exceed 50% of the sign areas on both sides with an allowance to be no more than 82 square feet in total and no more than 12 feet in height.
Plans include a double-lane pharmacy drive-through and an 8,000-square-foot wine and spirits store. The marketplace will feature produce, a bakery, deli, floral and meat departments, Starbucks, Murray’s Cheese, and home goods.
Many residents showed up at the meeting and spoke both for and against it.
Campbell County resident Jeff Trauth said he feels Alexandria is being overdeveloped and that there are already close grocery stories and gas stations.
“We’re talking about destroying 20 acres, and my commonsense question is, really, for what?” Trauth said. “We know that if you drive in the vicinity of Alexandria, there are at least five different gas stations. Anybody want to take a guess as to how many miles it is from the spot here to Meijer? It’s 3.1 miles.”
The Kroger fuel center is proposed for 3.29 acres at 7940 Alexandria Pike next to Empress Chili. It is proposed that Commercial Circle be extended to the east as a private drive to access the new Kroger. Access to the fuel center will be from a right-in/right-out-only access to northbound US 27.
David Barone spoke at the meeting in favor of the new Kroger coming to the city. Barone said Alexandria is no longer a small town.
“If you do not want development, you buy the property, and you sit on it as long as you want,” he said. “Then you can control development in Alexandria or the county, but until you do that, it’s going to be developed.”
There are 15 pick-up spaces proposed that will be provided for customers who prefer to shop online and pick up their orders at the store. The new Kroger will have 570 parking spaces, including 20 ADA spaces. Three loading docks will be located at the back of the building.
The new location is expected to have 350 associates.
Zone changes were also required for this development.
According to the staff report, the first parcel is approximately 39.5 acres and has been available for development for several decades. It is currently under contract for this development. Approximately 20.8 acres of the site are currently zoned as highway commercial. The planning and zoning commission approved the balance of the parcel, approximately 18.7 acres, to be rezoned from a residential zone to a commercial highway zone.
The site for the fuel center also required rezoning. The 3.24-acre parcel at 7940 Alexandria Pike is currently used as a single-family residence (which will be removed). The site was approved to be rezoned from a residential zone to a highway commercial zone.
There are two lots on the site marked for future development.
The zone changes still require approval by the Alexandria City Council. Due to the request to review the traffic study, the plans must also return to the planning commission for approval once that has been completed by the transportation cabinet.