By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LAKESIDE PARK - The Kenton County Planning Commission rejected plans Thursday night for a new upscale retail center proposed on what is now a mobile home park in Crescent Springs.

But Crescent Springs city officials are not bound by the planning commission vote and appear to be moving forward to approve the $56 million Buttermilk Town Center despite concerns raised about traffic and other construction issues.

"I feel this is a good project for our city," Crescent Springs Mayor Claire Moriconi said during a planning commission public hearing that lasted more than five hours and had to be moved to a church to accommodate a crowd of more than 200.

Crescent Springs City Council has already approved a plan to assist in the financing of the project. It agreed in October to float a $56 million bond issue for the project's developer, Bear Creek Capital of Montgomery.

The project includes 325,210 square feet of office space, a two-story 40,000-square-foot office building and seven out lots for restaurants or other businesses.

Final council approval for the project could come as soon as January, Moriconi said.

The deal includes $9 million in improvements to roads and other areas in and around the development site, bounded by Anderson Road, Beechwood Road, Buttermilk Pike and railroad tracks.

The planning commission staff had recommended the full commission reject the plan because of concerns over the amount of traffic the project would generate and because of inconsistencies with the city's neighborhood development plan.

Planning Commission member Dave Hilgeford said the project would add more traffic to the already congested corridor of Buttermilk Pike. While part of the $9 million is earmarked for road improvements it was not made clear when the improvements would be made or who would be responsible for doing the work.

At one point Hilgeford asked Moriconi if she agreed that additional vehicles would make Buttermilk Pike even more difficult to travel.

"Probably," she said.

Commission member Bernie Wessels suggested the city get a development agreement with Bear Creek to address concerns he raised about traffic flows in and out of the project, signage and sidewalks in the development.

"That's something we are going to work on," Moriconi said.

Moriconi said the city is also taking steps to help the mobile home park residents find a new place to live. The city has retained a grant expert to obtain $1 million in federal money that could be used to help the displaced residents.

The project is being debated as new or revamped retail centers are also planned in the Crestview Hills, Florence and Newport.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com