By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LIBERTY TWP. - About 100 neighbors, developers and elected officials packed into the tiny township hall here Thursday to attack and praise a controversial proposal for an eastward interchange off the Michael A. Fox Highway at Interstate 75.

Mason Mayor John McCurley says an eastbound interchange would funnel traffic into his city on roads that can't handle the volume. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

The interchange would run about a quarter-mile east to link with an extended Cox Road, which eventually would run five lanes wide to Ohio 63 in Monroe. If federal and state transportation officials approve the project, it would be built in about two years and Cox would be gradually extended.

Butler County and Liberty officials say the interchange is needed to spur commercial development.

But opponents, including environmentalists and residents near the proposed site, warn it would promote sprawl, noise and traffic.

Geoff Berne of Hamilton said his city has lost, not gained, jobs and businesses since the Fox Highway linked it to I-75 in 1999.

"We want to hang onto Hamilton as long as we can. That's what's really at stake here," Mr. Berne said.

Public hearings were required before the road plan comes up for a vote to place it on a project plan Thursday at the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments. Butler County commissioners are confident they have secured enough commitments from OKI board members for approval.

The interchange would link 655 acres of commercially zoned land, and is sure to bring mass development and traffic congestion near homes, some neighbors complain.

Four Bridges subdivision residents, who abut the road plan, asked trustees this week to increase zoning and buffering requirements to better protect their upscale homes, which range from $250,000 to nearly $1 million.

Some Four Bridges neighbors pleaded Thursday with OKI officials to delay approving the interchange next week until they have more time to digest its impact and so that environmental and other studies can be conducted.

But other residents spoke in favor of the interchange Thursday, saying it is direly needed to reduce traffic congestion in Liberty and West Chester.

"The only thing wrong with the interchange - and I dearly hope it is built - is that it doesn't go far enough," resident Nancy Moore said. "It should go all the way to Interstate 71."

Between 1990 and 2000, the township's population grew 147 percent and now is 25,000. Butler leaders say the interchange would bring 15,100 jobs and millions in tax revenues to offset soaring residential costs. They also want to build the interchange before more homes soak up the developable land.

Mason Mayor John McCurley, however, said he is worried the interchange would flood cars onto roads in his city, which borders Liberty to the east.

"What you have to the east between this connector and the city of Mason and the rest of Warren County are two-lane, horse-and-buggy roads - rural roads," he said. "I am opposed to it without a plan of what's going to happen to the east."

Liberty Trustee Bob Shelley said, "The interchange will allow us to dictate what type of growth goes in that area and give us better leverage on avoiding the little strip malls and outlet stores."

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.