- The Independence City Council performed a first reading for zoning changes for a large, mixed-use development off KY-17 this week
- The development would include residential and commercial sections, plus a large park
- The mayor said it was unlikely the city would allow new information from the public to be entered into the record in the future
Zoning changes for a proposed development off KY-17 that would include 10 businesses and 336 apartment units went through a first reading before Independence City Council Monday, setting it up for final approval next month.
“We’re looking forward to getting it into the next meeting,” said Mike Doty, vice president of construction for Brandicorp, the Bellevue company behind the development.
The roughly 40-acre tract of land is located on the east side of KY-17, south of McCullum Pike and north of Centennial Boulevard. The Independence Publix is just to the south. The land itself houses an old family farm and is mostly open space, except for a single building and a pond. It’s currently zoned for residential rural estates. Brandicorp had submitted the zoning requests on behalf of the land’s owners, Mark Smock, Angela Smock and John P. Hanrahan.
The plan is to divide the land into two new parcels: one spanning about 17 acres, which will be designated a community commercial zone, and another spanning about 23 acres, which will be designated a planned unit development (PUD) zone. The commercial zone is designated to include 10 businesses, and the PUD zone is planned for apartments.
The development plan went before the Kenton County Planning Commission on June 8. Although some commissioners showed trepidation about the plan, the commission eventually recommended in favor of the zoning changes.
Documents submitted to the planning commission before June’s meeting listed out the kinds of businesses slated to go into the commercial area of the development, although the developers admitted they had not secured specific tenants or buyers:
- An oil change business
- A car wash
- Five restaurants with drive-thrus
- One sit-down restaurant
- A convenience store with a gas station
- A bank with a drive-thru.
The apartments, on the other hand, will be spread throughout 14 three-story buildings. The plan calls for 84 one-bedroom units, 240 two-bedroom units, and 12 three-bedroom units. Rents are expected to range between $1,400 and $1,800 per month, depending on the unit’s size. The concept plan had room for 669 parking spaces within the PUD zone.
Finally, the proposal calls for a large open space with a public park in the southwest corner of the development. The proposal lists overlooks, grilling and fire pit areas, outdoor kitchens and seating areas, as well as numerous walking paths as amenities of the park, which ideally would take advantage of the city’s rural landscape. Additionally, the development would have room for a leasing office, a pool and fitness center.
Two residents spoke out against the development before the planning commission, but none spoke, either in favor or against, before the city council. Mayor Chris Reinserman said that at this point in the process, after a public hearing at the county level, the city usually doesn’t allow new evidence or information to be introduced into the record.
“We are not allowed to introduce any new evidence without conducting our own public hearing, which we generally do not do for a variety of reasons, but mainly this is what the Kennedy County Planning Commission does…,” Reinersman said. “I generally do not intend to entertain any speaking on it.”
The Independence City Council will cast a final vote on the zoning changes at their meeting on Aug. 3.
