UPDATE: Independence considers final approval of Freedom Park expansion

Update: The Independence City Council approved the zoning for the development at their meeting on Nov. 3, 2025 in a 5-1 vote. Council Member Greg Steffen was the only council member to vote against the change. –LINK nky editorial, Nov. 5, 2025.

The Independence City Council is considering final approval of a zoning change that would allow for a 126-lot expansion of the Freedom Park subdivision.

The council completed a first reading of the change Monday night after developer and Noll Homes Principal David Noll fielded questions from the council members. The council will cast a final vote on the change at its meeting in November.

The development had gotten a stamp of approval from the Kenton County Planning Commission in September. The area spans just over 43 acres in Independence at the current end of Freedom Trail, which currently dead-ends into a wooded area. Wilson Road sits to the west, and Bramlage Road sits just south of the land.

Shaw Road can be found to the north of the land. Aside from the adjoining subdivision, the area is mostly surrounded by open green space and farmland. There are also conservation easements along some of the land’s streams.

Despite the increased density permitted under the zoning change, in September, the county’s planning professionals only recommended the zoning change to the commission on the condition that the developers not exceed 3.41 housing units per buildable acre. Planning professionals believed this density would better conform to the adjacent area’s residential land use.

Some of the homes Noll Homes proposes to build were dubbed “courtyard homes” because, well, they have courtyards. An August email from Noll to county planning professionals describes the homes as “designed primarily for the 55+ market.”

At Monday’s meeting, Noll elaborated that, although the homes would be marketed to older demographics, there would be nothing preventing other buyers from purchasing the homes. Residents would pay into an HOA, which would be responsible for yard maintenance.

Regarding all the homes, documentation submitted to the county indicates they would have two to four bedrooms, and the developer estimated average sale prices between $385,000 and $536,000, depending on the unit’s size.

On the other hand, monthly expenses – including a 10% down monthly mortgage payment, HOA fees, property taxes, as well as mortgage and property insurance – were estimated between $3,125 and $4,300.

Much of the land had been annexed into Independence from the unincorporated county in 2004, an action that came with several conditions, most notably that any heavy equipment necessary to develop the area would have to come in off of Wilson Road, rather than Freedom Trail.

Mayor Chris Reinersman emphasized at Monday’s meeting that “this development has been approved for many, many years.”

No members of the public spoke about the development at the meeting; however, one Council Member, Chris Vogelpohl, lives in the existing Freedom Park neighborhood, and another Council Member, Carol Franzen, had gotten inquiries from residents about it.

Much of the discussion centered on traffic and the construction process. Noll indicated that he would be performing a traffic study in the area. Franzen wanted to know about the styles of the homes and if the HOA requirement would extend to the existing subdivision; Noll said it would not.

Franzen also stated that some residents were “requesting a ‘no-thru traffic’ sign,” but that would have to be handled through the city.

Vogelpohl, like some of the planning commissioners in September, wanted to know about the heavy equipment stipulation.

“What is considered heavy equipment?” Vogelpohl asked.

“We’re talking about the big, giant, heavy stuff,” Noll said, “big trucks, the pans, the big earth movers and that kind of thing will come off of Wilson Road.”

Vogelpohl also wanted to know about bridge construction across creeks running through the land to facilitate the movement of equipment.

“Is there a reason that could not be done last?” Vogelpohl said, to better control traffic.

Noll replied that the construction would have taken place as early as possible to facilitate sewer and utility construction. It would also ensure the development occurred more quickly and would enable more efficient movement of equipment.

“We don’t want trucks going everywhere,” Noll said. “The best way to do that is to start from that ridge and work our way back toward the lower ground.”

The Independence City Council will cast its final vote on the zoning at its meeting on Nov. 3.

You can view and download a concept plan of the development as submitted to the county below.