By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LIBERTY TWP. - Residential development is expected to resume on 44 acres off Yankee Road, where neighbors raised lead contamination concerns this past summer.

Recent soil tests on property in the area where the former owner says occasional shooting took place show the lead levels are well below federal standards.

Based on those 22 samples, the land is suitable for residential development, an environmental consultant hired by developer David Welsh of Welsh Development Co.. of Harrison wrote in a report for Welsh released to the Enquirer.

Welsh said the findings weren't a surprise. After neighbors complained in August, he agreed to do soil tests to dispel the notion that the land could be contaminated.

"Initially, the accusations that were made were self-serving and unfounded," Welsh said. "But in the interest of being sure that my development was safe, we went ahead and tested it."

The former owner of the property, who now lives in Columbus, says he used the land as a retreat where recreational shooting took place a few weekends a year.

Residents who live behind the property off Ivory Lane disagree with the report's findings. They insist the shooting occurred more often, throughout the day about two weekends a month.

The residents are concerned in light of contamination found at Lexington Manor, a nearby subdivision built on a former skeet shooting range. That area is undergoing a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-directed cleanup.

The Ivory Lane neighbors say they are disappointed more of the property was not sampled.

"I am not convinced that a true, accurate study has been made," said Mike Pietrantano, 52, president of the Ivory Lane Homeowners Association.

---

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.