BURLINGTON — City planners, concerned that explosive population growth is not translating into increased downtown business, have developed a “Burlington Town Plan” to preserve the business district's Mayberry-type atmosphere.

        With a population increase of nearly 450 percent since 1990 and an average of 220 new home starts a year for the last seven years, the number of people in suburban Burlington continues to rise, but the businesses in the core of the town are dwindling.

A worker builds a home in the Noel Creek development, just west of Burlington. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        The Burlington Town Plan, which will be presented to the public April 29, endeavors to bring the subdivisions and old downtown together, proposing sidewalks linking major subdivisions to the town.

        “The last 10 years have really been unkind to the town,” said Bob Jonas, a geographic information systems specialist for Boone County.

        “We've lost a few businesses and a few buildings. The suburbs of Burlington have been exploding, but the town center has missed the prosperity.”

        Burlington had 2,415 residents in 1990. The population grew to 10,779 in the 2000 census.

        The grocery store that sat on the corner of Burlington Pike and East Bend Road closed about five years ago, small businesses have left and now Burlington Pro Hardware is closing after 60 years.

        “The hardware store closing is kind of a reality check as to why we're doing this,” said Mr. Jonas. “It's to revitalize the old town. Part of the goal is to link the subdivisions into town by building sidewalks. It's to get people to walk into town.”

        Kevin Costello, executive director of the Boone County Planning Commission, said the plan focuses on historic Burlington, which is the area surrounding the new and old courthouses.

        The rest of Burlington, the more populated areas, is considered suburban Burlington.

        “It's always been the hub for the government center,” Mr. Costello said of the county seat, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

        “For years we've tried to get walking and bike lanes on Ky. 18 from the state, but the best we could do is get the expanded shoulders,” he said, adding that the plan could change this.

        The draft of the Burlington Town Plan includes sidewalks linking Burlington Meadows, Feather Stone, Kingsgate and Hanover Park subdivisions to the town.

        “The businesses could do well here in town if we can make the pedestrian links,” said Mr. Jonas, adding it would make it convenient to walk to the government center as well.

        The plan is not finished, but Mr. Jonas estimates that the sidewalk project, including landscaping, streetscape and streetlights, will cost $440,000.

        The county has applied for a TEA-21 grant, for transportation improvements for the project.

        The town plan will also look at ways to attract new businesses.

        “We're adjusting the zoning to make it friendlier to have a small business in town,” Mr. Jonas said. “There are some incentives we're looking into giving people who open in town. They're economic incentives like low-interest loan programs.”

        The Burlington Town Plan will probably recommend that a marketing strategy be set in place to attract new businesses.

        “We want small mom-and-pop type stuff,” said Mr. Jonas.

        “We want to keep the small-town environment,” he added.

        The Burlington Town Plan will be presented publicly at 7 p.m. Burlington Baptist Church Monday, April 29.

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