By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CRESCENT SPRINGS - The company that wants to build a "lifestyle" retail center here has asked City Council to issue industrial revenue bonds to build public streets, storm sewers and lighting for the $55 million project.

Bear Creek Capital, a Montgomery developer of retail property, made its pitch to Crescent Springs City Council in a closed-door meeting Monday night. No action was taken on the bond proposal, and council did not discuss it in open session.

Principal Matt Daniels later said developers plan to break ground by spring. He said Bear Creek Capital has signed agreements to buy all the land it needs for the 50-acre site off Anderson Road near Interstate 71/75. The company still needs the approval of local agencies and the proper permits.

Neither Daniels nor Crescent Springs City Attorney David Schneider would disclose the amount of the bonds sought.

Developer Jeff Anderson, who built Rookwood Commons in Norwood, wants to redevelop the Crestview Hills Mall into Northern Kentucky's first lifestyle retail center by summer 2005. Crestview Hills officials say they have the roads and other infrastructure in place for that city's planned lifestyle center, a retail concept that features high-end tenants and green space.

If Crescent Springs City Council opts to issue industrial revenue bonds for a lifestyle mall, the city would act as a conduit for the issuance of the bonds and would not incur any liability, Schneider said.

Schneider cited an exemption in the Kentucky Open Meetings Law that allows closed-door discussion of a specific economic development proposal "if open discussions would jeopardize the siting, retention, expansion, or upgrading of the business.''

Louisville lawyer Kim Greene, who represents the Kentucky Press Association, said many of the issues the exemption cites to justify a private meeting already appear to have been discussed publicly or don't apply.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com