By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

AMBERLEY VILLAGE - In this small, normally tranquil community, a large number of residents have declared war.

Their enemy is a developer's proposal to build 140 homes on what had been the Crest Hills Country Club at Ridge and Galbraith roads.

A well-organized group of residents opposes a proposed zoning change that would allow the residential development to be built. The group, called the Save Amberley Village Committee, wants the 133 acres to remain undeveloped and to be a park or a golf course.

The committee is rallying opposition to the development through its Web site, www.saveamberley.com, pamphlet and flier mailings, phone calls and fund-raising.

The opponents to the development say it would harm the pastoral ambience of Amberley, an upscale community known for big homes on large wooded lots. They say it would create more traffic and place an extra burden on the village's police and fire protection and other services.

"It would just be a total mistake," said Susan Glazer, one of the organizers of the Save Amberley Village Committee.

"We don't need more houses in Amberley," said Louis Katz, another member of the committee. "We need more green space."

This issue has galvanized Amberley residents. Signs saying "Keep Crest Hills Zoned Park" appear in front yards. An estimated 400 people showed up for a Village Council meeting last Monday to hear about the proposal.

About 100 jammed into council chambers, while others stood in the administration building's outer lobby to listen on the loudspeaker system. More than 100 cars were turned away because the parking lot was full.

The group presented council a petition with 300 signatures against the development.

The former Crest Hills Country Club property is next to what had been the Losantiville Country Club. About two years ago, the two country clubs merged and became the Ridge Club.

The Ridge Club operates a golf course on the Losantiville property, but has closed the golf course on the Crest Hills property.

Hal Homes Inc. of Blue Ash has signed a contract to buy the Crest Hills property and wants to build the houses. Mayor Charles Kamine said the contract allows Hal Silverman, president of Hal Homes, to back out of the contract without a penalty until late January.

So Silverman is anxious to find out before then if village officials will support his request to create a planned unit development zone that would permit him to build the houses on lots smaller than an acre.

The issue will be discussed at a village planning commission meeting in mid-January.

Through an employee, Silverman declined to comment on the controversy surrounding his proposed development.

Silverman originally proposed 140 homes spread throughout Crest Hills with lots of one acre, a half-acre and one-third acre.

Not all Amberley officials side with the development's foes.

Councilman Robert Stewart said he's keeping an open mind about the proposed development, which hasn't been officially submitted to the village.

In response to residents' concerns, Silverman presented a plan at last Monday's council meeting that put 140 attached homes and condominiums in the middle of the property, with a golf course on the exterior. The golf course and the clubhouse could be sold to the village.

By the numbers

3,425 - population

63.5 - percentage of residents 25 years and older with at least a bachelor's degree

$81,492 - median household income

$213,700 - median housing value

Source: 2000 U.S. Census

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E-mail skemme@enquirer.com