National homebuilder targets Alexandria for 46-lot subdivision

Texas-based homebuilders are eyeing Alexandria for a 46-lot subdivision.

D.R. Horton, Inc. plans to build 46 detached single-family homes on 31 acres at 1671 Grandview Road. The Alexandria Planning Commission unanimously approved the site development plan and granted a variance for smaller lot widths on 36 of the 46 lots on June 3.  

D.R. Horton has been the largest homebuilder by volume in the United States since 2002. Founded in 1978 in Fort Worth, Texas, D.R. Horton operates in 126 markets in 36 states.

“The sales pitch for this will be the beautiful view that people will have,” said Rob Smith with D.R. Horton. “There’s not a whole lot of usable backyard there. If it’s important to you to have a usable backyard for your kids or your dog, this might not be the right community for you. This is more about the view you’re going to have off of your back deck.”

The developer refers to the project as a residential conservation development. The plan includes open space areas. A recreational amenity and a walking trail are proposed to provide access to the open space.

The property owner, Rick Carr, spoke at the meeting about why he and his wife decided to sell the property to D.R. Horton.

Carr said he was golfing with a real estate agent who told him he had the biggest homebuilder in the nation coming to Northern Kentucky and had no property to show them.

That’s when Carr offered his 31 acres.

“I’ve been impressed with DR Horton,” Carr said. “When we first started talking to them, before we ever made a deal with them, we went over and looked at some of their products, some of their housing over in Ohio, and it looks nice. They seem to build a nice community.”

This move into Alexandria would be the company’s first development project in Kentucky.

At the planning and zoning meeting, neighbors from Grandview Road spoke, expressing concerns about the development related to traffic and typography.

“The main reason I wanted to come up here is to share my testament of how bad traffic currently is already, and it’s not so much volume, it’s the speed,” Alexandria resident Paul Sparks said.

Grandview Road resident Alicia Mueller said she and her family moved into their home a little over a year ago. Mueller said her home is right next to a stop sign that gets run past daily. A month after moving into their house, the family lost a dog because of people running the stop sign.

With two little kids at home, Mueller expressed concern about adding more cars to a road with existing traffic issues.

“We are fearful for our little girl’s safety, knowing that we are on the corner lot right there,” Mueller said. “So, I will agree with every concern; traffic-wise in that area, traffic is a huge thing.”

The development falls below the minimum number of car trips needed for a more detailed traffic study. Alexandria City Administrator David Plummer said he would talk to the police chief about getting a radar box installed so they can start documenting some data in the area.

Due to the site’s typography, a retaining wall is needed on 36 of the 46 lots; a variance is requested to reduce those lots from 60 feet to 55 feet. Geotechnical work will be required for the retaining wall, which the Home Owners Association will maintain.

Smith said he believes the homes will be above $400,000, which is needed to justify the company’s investment in the site.

The site plans include a protective barrier fence above the retaining wall. The plans indicate that the wall’s highest point is approximately 22 feet tall; however, the developer stated that it will most likely be reduced to about 16 to 18 feet.

Mueller also expressed concerns about the site’s ridges, streams and site conservation; however, the developer said those issues would be addressed during stage two of the development plans.

“I really would like the committee to focus on whether this is the correct use of a residential conservation development,” Mueller said. “Or is this just another way to put 46 slapstick homes five feet from their neighbors in a rural side of our beautiful city?”

The rough development/construction schedule is:

• Start development in October 2025
• Finish development in May 2026
• Projected to build three to four homes a month

The commission requested that the next stage of the development plan be considered.