By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DEERFIELD TWP. - Residents in this southern Warren County township are growing more vocal and more visible in their fight against development along Mason-Montgomery Road.

They've formed neighborhood action groups, and many are attending township and county meetings, some with their young in tow. Last week, many Deerfield Township homeowners received bright orange fliers, urging them to voice opposition to county officials over a proposed Wal-Mart.

A large contingent also is expected at the township zoning commission's Nov. 10 meeting. The committee, and ultimately the township trustees, must approve the plans.

The residents' main concern: The estimated 20 percent traffic increase on one of the county's most traveled roadways. Mason-Montgomery already carries 44,367 vehicles daily.

"Try to go anywhere at 4 o'clock - anywhere on Mason-Montgomery Road - and it's ridiculous," said Tonya Hines, who lives in a smaller subdivision near the construction. "This is only going to make it worse."

Since construction started on a major Kroger shopping center and Rookwood Commons-type development, she says traffic has nearly doubled in her neighborhood. She fears plans for the land between the two projects - a 203,000 square foot Wal-Mart Supercenter and Shoppes of Deerfield, with a retail strip and restaurants - will make it even worse.

Diana Halligan, a township resident for 14 years, has even brought up the idea of a moratorium on development. Township officials have said they don't think that is a viable solution to controlling growth.

"This is not what the community envisions," Halligan said about the Supercenter. "Is there really a need for six more gas pumps in that area?"

The discount store as well as some surrounding retail and restaurants were given a conditional approval from the executive committee of the county's Regional Planning Commission last week. But the committee did recommend that the township law director review the zoning of the property to make sure there is adequate balance of retail and office space.

"Traffic is probably the biggest issue they have," said Larry Weis, the township's public works director. "It's the number one issue everywhere and it's real. Whether you're Deerfield Township or Hamilton Township or Hamilton County, as growth continues, traffic is always going to be a concern."

Some, including members from the newly formed Citizens of Charleston Park, have asked for any major developments to have more green space and be better coordinated with surrounding areas.

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E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com