Opinion: Opposition to developing 340 apartment units by extending Bowman Way

Written by Union Mayor Larry Solomon

The City of Florence has been supporting the Silverman & Company development of the Streutker/Witt properties located near Frontage Road between Torres Restaurant and Old Union Road. The City of Union has opposed this development from when they made us aware of their plans a couple of years ago. This project calls for 340 units to be built upon 32.96 acres (or 10.3 units per acre) with only one entrance/exit via Bowman Way to traffic light at Rte. 42. On September 2, the Boone County Planning Commission voted this project down 11 to 2! Florence will now have first annex that property into their city, then vote to approve or, hopefully, not approve this project.

While we do not contest the look-and-feel of the proposed development, what is contested are the project’s density levels and the true traffic impact on the northern end of our city.

Density Levels:
The 2045 Comprehensive Plan, adopted February 2026…just six months ago, calls for 8 multi-family units per acre, or 264 units on 32.96 acres…a far cry from 340 units. Therefore, it is clear…this project does not comply with the new Comprehensive Plan! The irony here is that this project is requesting to violate the new Comprehensive Plan just six months after its adoption without true and actual justification!

Access To Frontage Road:
While the developer put into their proposal that they will build an emergency access road onto the City of Union’s fully-owned Frontage Road, we have grave concerns pertaining to any added usage of Frontage Road, emergency or otherwise,…none of which the City of Union approves whatsoever!

One Entrance/Exit Onto Bowman Way:
Bowman Way itself and the traffic light at Bowman Way and Rte. 42 will become an absolute mess if this project is approved. There will be 340-680 vehicles going in and out of their project each day to the traffic light at Bowman Way and Rte. 42. This additional traffic will be in addition to…
• 1,400 vehicles travel north on U.S. Rte. 42 in the AM going to work and back in the PM coming home from work, according to our traffic study.
• Boone County Public Schools Pre-School traffic. Upon opening in 2027, there will be 18 school buses going in-and-out all day long; parent drop-offs and pick-ups; 120 employees driving to and from work; and, occasional training sessions that will accommodate up 500 attendees.
All this traffic will be going through the traffic light at Bowman Way and Rte. 42 primarily.

At the Public Hearing for this project, over 200 residents showed up…to strongly oppose this project; no one spoke for it. Additionally, the following community influentials have come out in opposition to this project…
• The Boone County Planning Commission voting 11-2 against this project.
• The entire City of Union Commission.
• Marianne Proctor – State Representative.
• Steve Rawlings – State Senator.
• Chet Hand – BC Commissioner and Judge Executive Candidate.
• John Schickel – Former State Senator and BC Commissioner Candidate.
• David Rose – Mayor of Florence Candidate.
• Trevor Nelson – Orleans HOA President.
• And, the 200 community residents showing up for this project’s Public Hearing.

There is an old saying that applies to these many people opposing this project…Maybe They Are Right! It is our hope that members of the Florence City Council, when this project comes before them (annexation and project approval), review this project thoroughly and evaluate the traffic impact it will have on the entire community surrounding the Streutker/Witt properties. Then hopefully come to the same conclusion all those listed with this article have concluded…this project does not fit onto these two properties, and thereby, should not be approved to move forward. Mayor Larry.