By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

VILLA HILLS - A lawyer will study whether the city of Villa Hills should join the legal battle over a proposed $56 million shopping plaza in Crescent Springs.

"By a six-to-zero vote, we authorized the mayor to retain special counsel to look at this situation and tell us what our rights are and what's the best way to protect the citizens of Villa Hills," said Villa Hills Council Member Bob Kramer. The vote was taken Wednesday night.

"We just want someone to tell us what our options are (and) what the best course of action is."

On Tuesday, Fort Mitchell City Council and 10 other parties sued the city of Crescent Springs over the proposed Buttermilk Towne Center that would replace a mobile home park along Anderson Road. The suit lists concerns about traffic and safety issues and claims Crescent Springs officials failed to follow their zoning law when they approved a preliminary development plan for the project on Dec. 22.

Kramer also wants the Crescent-Villa Fire Authority - the fiscal manager for the fire department serving Crescent Springs and Villa Hills - to re-examine each city's contribution in light of the proposed shopping plaza. Villa Hills now contributes 60 percent of the fire department's budget and Crescent Springs pays 40 percent.

If Buttermilk Towne Center, with its 325,000 square feet of retail space and 40,000 square feet of office space, is built, Kramer questioned whether the current formula is fair.

"It's based on population, and they have double our population. I don't know why they would want to change it," Crescent Springs Mayor Claire Moriconi said.

The newly formed Citizens for Traffic Safety and Fiscal Responsibility has set an informational meeting for 7 p.m. March 2 at the Drawbridge Inn, Fort Mitchell.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com