The Cincinnati Enquirer

AMBERLEY VILLAGE - Village Council rejected a zone change request Wednesday night for a housing development at the former Crest Hills Country Club.

The action came after a three-hour public hearing that attracted about 300 people. More than 30 people spoke out on the issue before council voted 4-2 to reject the zoning request.

Council members Melvin Schear and Robert Stewart supported the change, while Wendy Heldman abstained because of her affiliation with the club.

Hal Homes of Blue Ash was seeking approval to change the zoning for parts of the property from park to residential classifications.

The developer proposed building 90 houses on 133 acres at Ridge and Galbraith roads, including 38 houses on 1-acre lots or larger and 52 houses on lots a half-acre or larger.

The homes were to have sold for $500,000 to $1.5 million.

Opponents had argued the development would harm Amberley's pastoral atmosphere, create traffic problems and overburden village services. Supporters disputed those concerns, saying the development would provide needed tax revenue.