By Jeremy W. Steele
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - Warren County commissioners reluctantly signed off Tuesday on a developer's plan to build low- and moderate-income apartments in South Lebanon.

Developers needed the county's endorsement to apply for federal housing tax credits that would enable them to lower rent costs at the planned 176-unit complex. Rent is expected to range from $505 a month for a one-bedroom unit to $715 for three bedrooms.

But Commissioner Mike Kilburn said the county doesn't need more affordable housing options.

"We're going to attract a whole lot of low-income people from Hamilton, Middletown and Cincinnati," Kilburn said. "Why should we bring more people into the area to tax our infrastructure? I don't want to turn South Lebanon into another Hamilton. This is how these things start."

Kilburn was joined by Commissioner Larry Crisenbery in challenging the county's need for such housing. Both said the apartments would be bad for South Lebanon.

But county officials said the complex meets criteria for affordable housing according to the County Housing Improvement Strategy - an analysis of the county's housing needs.

And a representative from developer Pedcor Investments and South Lebanon officials argued the complex would be an asset.

Bill Parrish, Pedcor vice president for development, said his company takes pride in maintaining the 7,000 apartment units the company has built in the Midwest, including a complex in Hamilton, and attracting good residents.

"People have to work. They have to be able to pay rent," he said. "A lot of places we go into, we find firefighters, police and teachers live here."

The South Lebanon City Council already has rezoned 12 acres off Old Lebanon Road for the complex, dubbed The Cedars at Rivers Bend. The complex will consist of nine apartment buildings, a clubhouse, playground and pool. Plans are to offer 80 one-bedroom units, 80 two-bedrooms and 16 three-bedrooms.

The complex will be located just north of South Lebanon's Vista Pointe at River's Bend subdivision, the site of Homearama for the past two years. Homes at this year's event were priced at more than $1 million each.

South Lebanon Mayor James D. Smith said his village needs a mix of housing options.

The average home in the 3,500-resident community sells for $300,000, but the village does not have any apartment complexes, he said.

"It would allow people graduating from college and going to graduate school to come back and stay in the community," he said.

In other business Tuesday, commissioners approved $18,412 for the Warren County Sheriff's Office Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, program. Sheriff Tom Ariss expects state matching funds to run the program in eight county school districts.

E-mail jsteele@enquirer.com