WEST CHESTER TWP. — On the heels of an announcement that a similarcenter will be built just to the north in Monroe, developers are scaling back plans here for a commercial/residential complex — at least for now.

MALL PROJECTS

• West Chester Market Square: Columbus-based Steiner & Associates has teamed up with Neyer Properties, Inc., of Evendale to build a 225,000-square-foot complex on 75 acres at the northeast corner of Cincinnati-Dayton Road and Interstate 75. It will include retail shops, a restaurant and a Showcase Cinemas with 14 to 20 screens. Construction is expected to begin this fall.     • Monroe Mall: Taubman Co. of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., plans to build a 1.1 million-square-foot mall anchored by Dillard's on 275 acres just east of the Interstate75-Ohio 63 interchange. The bilevel mall, scheduled to open in fall 2006, could feature up to five large department stores and 150 specialty stores.

        The move also comes after township trustees shot down a proposal from Columbus-based Steiner & Associates and Neyer Properties Inc. of Evendale for a $20 million to $40 million tax incentive to build two parking garages on their 75-acre site.

        The garages were necessary to accommodate visitors to the 1 million-square-foot development at West Chester Market Square on the northeast corner of Cincinnati-Dayton Road and Interstate 75.

        The complex originally was pitched to hold a movie theater, restaurants, upscale shops, businesses and perhaps a hotel and apartments.

        But a conditional use permit filed late Wednesday at the township office shows the developers are requesting zoning to first build a 225,000-square-foot complex that will include retail shops, a restaurant and a Showcase Cinemas with 14-20 screens.

        The issue will be voted on by the Board of Zoning Appeals at 7 p.m. June 17.

        The developers have met this week with trustees individually and the township's assistant administrator to tout their latest version.

        “They want to resubmit some ideas for a smaller facility, perhaps just a first phase of a slightly larger development eventually,” Trustee Catherine Stoker said. Ms. Stoker and Trustee Dave Tacosik both said they raised traffic concerns with the developers. Cincinnati-Dayton Road is being widened from two lanes to five south of Tylersville Road to just past the I-75 interchange. That project is expected to be complete by fall.

        They fear the complex would pack roads and speed up the need for more road widening that otherwise may not be needed for at least 20 years. It also would mean dumping more cars onto the worst congested road in the township, Tylersville.

        “I am concerned they may be trying to shoehorn too much into a small area,” Ms. Stoker said. “The development also would greatly shorten the life span of the improvements on Cincinnati-Dayton Road.”

        Trustee Jose Alvarez said he hasn't met with developers because he's been too busy but hopes they aren't trying to bring in the original development in phases. “We don't want them to bring it in piecemeal. We lose final control of what it will be,” Mr. Alvarez said. “We want to see the final plans first. All I know now is they want to bring in a building with a cinema attached to it. That's not much of a description.”

        Barry Rosenberg, Steiner's vice president, said Thursday the company “definitely” will look into asking for another tax incentive and may build more on the site later.

        But residents who live nearby say they are vehemently opposed for several reasons, especially traffic congestion. A similar complex with a movie theater is planned for West Chester at the southeast corner of I-75 and Union Centre Boulevard. The residents say the area, while fast-growing, can't support two major movie complexes.
       

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