By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CRESCENT SPRINGS - City officials are moving forward with plans for a new retail center on what is now a mobile home park.
Council has called a special meeting for 6 p.m. Monday to consider Bear Creek Capital's initial development plan for the $56 million Buttermilk Town Center. Two weeks ago, the Kenton County Planning Commission rejected the plan, mostly because of traffic concerns. However, Crescent Springs City Council doesn't have to follow that recommendation.
The special meeting will be at the city building, 739 Buttermilk Pike.
"I think council's real excited about this,'' said Crescent Springs Mayor Claire Moriconi. "We know we've got traffic problems, but at least we're addressing them.''
Moriconi said council will not solicit comments from the audience Monday night, as it is not a public hearing.
Issues such as traffic and signage and actual tenants will have to be addressed later, she said.
The project includes retail development, a two-story 40,000-square-foot office building and seven additional lots for restaurants or other businesses. In October, Crescent Springs City Council agreed to float a $56 million bond issue for Bear Creek Capital of Montgomery.The deal includes $9 million in improvements to roads and other areas in and near the development site, which is bounded by Anderson Road, Beechwood Road, Buttermilk Pike and railroad tracks.
At the Dec. 4 planning commission meeting, county planners recommended against approval, in part because Buttermilk Pike is already congested. While part of the $9 million is earmarked for road improvements, it was not made clear when the improvements would be made, planners said.
County planners suggested that Crescent Springs officials get an agreement with Bear Creek to address concerns about traffic flow in and out of the project, signage and sidewalks.
Crescent Springs Council Member Tom Vergamini headed a four-member task force that recently met with developers to address some of the issues.
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E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com
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