- Drees Homes proposes a 377-unit residential development on 185 acres along US 42 in Union
- Project includes single-family homes, townhomes, amenities and 69 acres of open space
- Residents raised concerns about traffic safety and overcrowded schools during public hearing
Fort Mitchell-based homebuilder Drees Homes wants to develop a new suburban community in the Union area. However, some local residents are apprehensive.
For the project to move forward, Drees Homes submitted an application to the Boone County Planning Commission to rezone a 185-acre area of land along the west side of U.S. 42, between Rice Pike and Bleu Yacht Lane, from agricultural estate to suburban residential one with a planned development overlay, allowing the construction of a 377-unit residential development.
Specifically, Drees Homes’ proposal calls for the construction of 247 single-family homes and 130 townhome units, along with amenities such as a community pool, clubhouse, sidewalks, walking trails and approximately 69 acres of preserved open space.
The 185 acres are actually two separate parcels of land owned by Bleach Bottle Investments LLC and Gary W. Nelter, according to Boone County property records. Currently, the land is used for agriculture.
On Wednesday, March 18, the planning commission held a public hearing for the project, giving the legislative body, developers and the broader community a chance to share input and opinions.
Matt Mains, a development manager at Drees, presented the proposal as a way to balance growth by constructing more homes while conserving land. According to documents provided by the Boone County Planning Commission, the project’s planned density is 2.05 units per acre.
“We’ve really tried to find a balance,” Mains said. “Our density is relatively low compared to what the comprehensive plan calls out … it’s a difficult site, but we think we found a way to make it work well and provide a lot of great housing for the community.”
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
Following Mains’ presentation, multiple members of the public addressed the planning commission regarding the proposal, with many voicing opposition due to concerns about potential impacts on roadways and the local school population.
Charlene Scalia, a neighbor of the Twin Lakes subdivision, voiced her opposition to the potential development, raising concerns that it could exacerbate traffic and increase parking problems at New Haven Elementary.
“Everything decays and everything goes down,” she said. “I don’t care how much effort and things you put into it, but I don’t believe that the county has actually been supporting the community. They’re supporting what you want to have your development and things, but you’ve forgotten the fact that there are people that have kids, who are trying to do things and trying to protect them, and we just allowed everything to swarm in over top of us.”
Another resident, Allison Chadwell, raised safety concerns about current traffic conditions near the proposed development, noting heavy truck traffic and limited visibility that can make the area unsafe at times. Chadwell requested further information from a forthcoming traffic study.
“There was a study provided, but the existing traffic counts and the mix of the vehicles was not provided as part of that,” Chadwell said.
Looking ahead, the planning commission’s Zone Change Committee will review Drees Homes’ request at an upcoming meeting on Wednesday, April 1.