- Union’s population has nearly tripled since 2000, prompting updates to its long-term development strategy.
- Proposed changes focus on modernizing the plan, managing density and recognizing Union Town Square as a central hub.
- A final draft will be reviewed May 18, with public input expected in June before formal approval later this summer.
The City of Union is updating its long-term land use plan, which outlines the city’s internal strategy for managing development.
Since 2000, Union’s population has grown substantially, increasing from approximately 2,800 that year to nearly 8,000 in 2024. As a result, Union’s land use goals are now different from what they were 26 years ago, as the community has shifted from a more rural, sparsely populated city to a bustling suburb experiencing some of the highest rates of population growth and commercial development in Northern Kentucky.
Originally adopted in 2000, the Union Town Plan serves as a long-term land-use guide, outlining how city leadership should manage the community’s development throughout the early 21st century. The Town Plan specifies where various types of development, such as residential, commercial, office and mixed-use areas, should be located, along with guidance on the desired density for each. The plan is generally updated every five years.
During a Union City Commission meeting on Monday, May 5, Boone County Planning Commission Executive Director Kevin Costello, who played a major role in the creation of the original Town Plan, presented several updates to the legislative body. Costello noted that the goal was not to overhaul the plan, but rather to modernize it to better reflect the city’s current conditions and future needs.
According to a document provided by the city commission, 65.8% of the Town Plan’s jurisdictional boundaries are within Union, followed by unincorporated Boone County at 30.8% and a small portion in Florence at 3.4%. Regarding land use, 73.5% of the area has been developed, 16.3% remains undeveloped and 10.2% is designated as streets.
Here is a list of the proposed changes to the Union Town Plan:
- Remove outdated language and update the road network within Union. Remove timing/phasing language.
- Align the plan with the newly passed 2045 Comprehensive Plan, replacing references to the 1995 version
- Recognize the Union Town Square project as a community centerpiece.
- Match existing residential densities, such as senior housing, condos, patio homes, etc.
- Promote single-family detached housing, the predominant form of housing within Union
- Continue to promote green/open space along with improved pedestrian access.
- Focus more on the Old Union Road small business district.
- Identify six key development areas affecting Union’s future.
- Recommend improved placemaking and wayfinding to promote local businesses, events and recreational spaces.
- Clarify the review process and mandate that developers first meet with city and county officials.
- Maintain the existing zoning districts: Urban Commercial, Urban Neighborhood Office and Union Business Town Center, with only minor adjustments to permitted uses.
- Make building-mounted signs larger and taller to accommodate multi-tenant buildings and improve visibility.
- Recommend ways to ensure street safety and expand sidewalks and multi-use paths.
- Evaluate the new plan in five years or in 2031.
A significant update to the Town Plan is the addition of the Union Town Square project. The updated Town Plan will recognize Union Town Square as a central feature of the community. Union Town Square is a project transforming a 22-acre plot between US-42 and Old Union Road into a community municipal center, and recreation and event space, featuring a new city building, park and performance venue. Construction work for the project is currently in progress.
“This is the centerpiece of the community now,” Costello said. “Developments gotta connect and build around it, they have to recognize so it’s a significant improvement. It will tie some of the development together. We’re very pleased to work the city did here. They bought for the future: future growth, green space, event space, park space, multi-use walking space, connecting to the old road – the old business district.”
A key sticking point for Union Mayor Larry Solomon was the use of density regulations to better manage growth, which he believes will keep the city on a positive trajectory.
“One of the things that we talked about specifically was making sure that we strongly enforce those density requirements, because that better manages growth,” Solomon said.
Looking ahead, the final draft of the updated Town Plan will be presented before the city commission on May 18 for initial review. The plan is expected to be publicly released in early June, with online posting and a comment period of at least two weeks, possibly lasting until the end of the month.
