By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BURLINGTON - A decision made 15 years ago is raising the ire of Hebron residents who want their street to remain a dead end.

On Tuesday, about 20 residents came to Boone Fiscal Court to urge officials not to allow a new subdivision off Ky. 20 because it would create a link from Ky. 20 to Ky. 237 through their neighborhood.

When the 118-home West Horizon subdivision was approved in 1988, West Horizon Drive was left as a dead end to connect with future development.

"How can a decision that was made 15 years ago still apply today?" asked West Horizon resident Rex Goon. "There should have been a time limit on the approval to begin with."

Today, the county posts signs on new streets telling residents that the street will be a through street. But it did not in 1988.

"If anyone bought their homes with the idea that this was not going to connect through, I don't know who is responsible for that," said county Judge-executive Gary Moore. "The road never was cul-de-sac'd, the fact that is just dead ends there...is a pretty good sign."

But resident Sheila Howard said that doesn't matter.

"Just because something was set in place 15 years ago doesn't mean that we can't change it," Howard said.

Residents fear extending the road to Ky. 20 and the addition of 92 houses will mean more and faster traffic in a neighborhood filled with children who often play in the street.

"We are happy residents in a nice suburban neighborhood where we know one another," Howard said. "Why on earth just because 15 years ago someone decided this was going to be a connector street ...why would we create problems that aren't there now?"

In addition, to speaking out at the meeting, residents have written 75 letters against the plan.

But their pleas may not do much good.

The subdivision does not need Fiscal Court's approval because the 121-acre site is already zoned for a subdivision. The planning commission staff reviews the plan to ensure the subdivision meets the county's regulations. But the commission can't say no if the subdivision meets all the legal and technical requirements, said Planning Commission Executive Director Kevin Costello.

"We don't have discretionary review," he said.

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com