BY TERRY FLYNN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE -- A long-discussed Target store is moving closer to reality.
The proposed Target Store at Houston Road and Hansel Avenue design was approved this week by the Boone County Planning Commission. Kevin Wall, director of zoning services for the planning commission, said there are construction details that must be provided by developers before final approval is given and construction can start.
"There are still some modifications to their plans we need to see," Mr. Wall said. "They will submit subdivision review plans... I would expect to see plan revisions within a week or two."
The Target is planned for 123,000 square feet, with 53,000 square feet available for another retail outlet. The site also would include two 10,000-square-foot office buildings and 5,000 square feet for an outside lot.
The site is located across Houston Road from Bigg's and directly in front of Turfway Park Race Course. The retail development would continue the theme of the Houston Road-Turfway Road area that includes Meijer, Lowe's, Home Quarters Warehouse, Wal-Mart and Best Buy. Attempts to reach a spokesman at Continental Properties in Wisconsin, one of the developers, were unsuccessful Friday.
The Target development was originally proposed and approved by the Boone County Planning Commission in 1996. But it was voted down by Florence council, primarily because it lacked office space to complement the retail.
Target opened three new stores in the Cincinnati area in October and received approval from Springdale in March to build a store.
