BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BURLINGTON -- Boone County's Zone Change Committee on Tuesday asked for some changes in a zoning-change request by Answers in Genesis (AIG) to build its national headquarters in the county.
The Florence-based Christian ministry agreed to address fire protection for the site before it returns to the committee Aug. 6. The group also said it would undergo an architectural design review and reduce the amount of land proposed to be rezoned.
The Zone Change Committee will make its recommendation on the proposal at next month's meeting, and the Boone County Planning Commission is to vote on the proposal Aug. 19. The plan also has to be approved by Boone Fiscal Court.
Hebron Fire Chief Dale Harshbarger questioned AIG's ability to get water from a nearby lake to provide effective fire protection and whether the pump system it plans to use is completely reliable. "We believe our fire suppression system, using the lake, will be sufficient," said engineer Dwight Clayton, adding that there are 52 million gallons of water in the lake.
The fire chief said it would take up to 10 minutes to respond to the site, and a new fire station on nearby Graves Road will not be built for at least two years.
AIG, which has an option on 47 acres just off Interstate 275 near Ky. 20 where it wants to build, is proposing between one and three buildings for up to 95,000 square feet.
Chief Harshbarger recommended that the organization build three buildings in order to allow less property loss during a possible fire.
Because the project will be done in phases, AIG said it could not commit to the number of buildings.
AIG said it has agreed to alter its plan to decrease the amount of traffic expected on Deck Lane. The organization also said it would look into whether Bullittsville Road needed a new layer of pavement to cope with additional traffic.
Concerns by the planning commission's staff included adequate sewer services and landscaping issues.
AIG, which was turned down in its attempt to build a creationist museum near Union in 1996, wants to build a museum, offices, distribution facilities and educational facilities.
