At 6:45 p.m. the Mess Hall was filling up for the public hearing on a Central Business District development proposal.

 By Robin Gee, City Council Beat Editor

After three hours of discussion and public comment, the Fort Thomas Planning Commission voted to table a decision on a proposed Central Business District development project. On Wednesday evening, between 170 and 180 people packed into the Mess Hall for a public hearing on the proposal.

Because of the lateness of the hour and the intensity of public interest, the commissioners decided to hold a second public hearing to continue exploration of the topic before voting on the matter. The additional public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on May 15. That meeting is scheduled for the City Building, but the venue could change. City staff will be informing the public on when that venue change could take place.

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The project in question would be a mixed-use development along North Fort Thomas Avenue to the corner of Highland Avenue encompassing properties at 9 Highland Avenue and 3, 15, 19 and 25 North Fort Thomas Avenue.

The top two floors would feature 24 luxury two- and three-bedroom condos with retail space on the bottom floor. Units would run from 1,549 square feet to 2,847 square feet. Parking for businesses is planned at the back of the structure, and an underground parking garage opening onto Woodland Place would be included for the condo residents.

The proposed price point was slated between $600,000 and $1.2 million dollars per flat.

Greiwe Development is the lead on the project with partners North American Properties, Sibcy Cline and M + A Architects. Rick Greiwe opened the meeting with a presentation on his plans with the help of architect Sari Lehtinen. They pointed out features that included covered sidewalks, additional trees and a greenery buffer zone as well as brick facades, pitched roofs, balconies, pedestrian walkways and seating spaces.   

Planning Commission member, Dan Gorman, recused himself at the beginning of the hearing, because he owns property included in the proposed plan at 15 and 19 N. Fort Thomas Avenue.

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The commissioners had little time to discuss the project with each other but said they were glad for the public input and discussion. Commission Chairman Dan Fehler encouraged residents to attend the next public hearing at the next Planning Commission meeting on May 15.

As it stands, the project is still on the agenda for the upcoming Board of Adjustments meeting on April 23 and the Design Review Board meeting on April 25. Both meetings are open to the public and start at 6 p.m. in the Fort Thomas City Building, 130 North Fort Thomas Avenue.

The Planning Commission is a seven-member group of resident volunteers that are appointed by the mayor. The makeup of that commission includes: Fehler, Gorman, Jerry Noran, Dave Wormald, Larry Schultz, Hans Tinkler and Tim Michel. Michel was absent from the meeting.