- Drees Homes is proposing 335 residential units on 185 acres along U.S. 42 between Rice Pike and Bleu Yacht Lane, down from the 377 units proposed earlier this year.
- Residents again raised concerns about traffic, safety and nearby schools, while Boone County Schools warned that several schools serving the area are at or near capacity.
- Drees is seeking a zone change from Agricultural Estate to Suburban Residential One with a planned development overlay. The proposal heads to the Planning Commission’s Zone Change Committee on Aug. 19.
Fort Mitchell-based Drees Homes returned to the Boone County Planning Commission, where they presented a scaled-down version of a previously proposed development between Rice Pike and Bleu Yacht Lane.
On August 5, Matt Mains, a development manager at Drees Homes, presented a plan to the planning commission during a public hearing for a 335-residential-unit development on an 185-acre area of land along the west side of U.S. 42, between Rice Pike and Bleu Yacht Lane.
Specifically, Drees’ proposal calls for 219 single-family residential units and 29 townhome buildings, for an overall density of 1.81 units per acre, according to provided documents. The development would also include a community center with a swimming pool and an accompanying pool house, an internal sidewalk system, and a small system of walking trails.
To move the proposal forward, Drees Homes has requested that the land’s zoning designation be changed from Agricultural Estate to Suburban Residential One with a planned development overlay.
According to Boone County property records, the 185-acre plot is actually two separate parcels owned by Bleach Bottle Investments LLC and Gary W. Neltner. The parcels are primarily used for agriculture.
In March, Mains pitched a larger development on the same properties, seeking a zoning change to allow a 377-unit residential development consisting of 247 single-family homes and 130 townhome units. The earlier proposal had a much higher density at 2.05 units per acre.
Ultimately, the applicant withdrew the zone change proposal, sending Drees Homes back to the drawing board.
After the presentation, several residents shared critiques and concerns about Drees Homes’ plan during the hearing’s public comment period.
Nearby resident Jean Ziegler raised concerns about the development’s compatibility with the surrounding area, as well as its potential impact on local traffic.
“I recommend those who are not familiar with the area to please do that and do that when school is in session because that’s typically three-quarters of the year to really experience the concerns,” Ziegler said.
In March, many residents shared similar concerns about a potential development on the land, feeling that a new subdivision could worsen traffic congestion and safety conditions in the area, including congestion and parking near New Haven Elementary, heavy truck traffic, and limited visibility on surrounding roadways. Residents also expressed concern about how the development could affect the local school population.
The land is located just south of Ryle High School, one of Kentucky’s largest schools by student enrollment, and west of New Haven Elementary School. This positioning makes the area a busy thoroughfare for traffic during the school year.
Kim Best, assistant superintendent of operations at Boone County Schools, submitted comments to the planning commission stating that the development could create enrollment problems for the school district. She noted that Ryle High School and Gray Middle School are currently over capacity, while New Haven Elementary ended the previous school year at 90% capacity.
The proposal’s next step is review by the planning commission’s Zone Change subcommittee, scheduled for August 19 at 5 p.m.
