By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - Warren County commissioners, in their quest to manage a residential boom, are looking into another potential tool: public roadways.

The county prosecutor is expected to report this week on legal issues surrounding public roadways after Commissioner Mike Kilburn raised the idea of having neither the county nor townships accept subdivision streets for maintenance. Depending on several factors, it could cause a chain reaction that may lead to rezoning and ultimately, possibly give commissioners more control.

"I'm just searching for ways to slow this thing down." Kilburn said during a recent county commissioner meeting.

"(Townships) don't want another road to have to pave three years from now. So if they were to take the position, 'We don't want another road,' where are we at if that were to happen? That's my question."

County zoning has provisions for privately maintained streets only in areas that are zoned as planned-unit developments, according to Bob Craig, executive director of the county's Regional Planning Commission. If developers, the county and townships refuse to maintain the streets, Kilburn argues that the developer would have to rezone the property, and that type of zoning would give commissioners more leeway in asking for fewer homes on lots that are even larger than standards require.

Warren County already increased lot size minimums last year in an effort to have fewer homes and more green space in new subdivisions in the five townships under county zoning. Commissioners have also advocated impact fees and talked about a moratorium on any more building and/or zoning permits from being issued.

Bruce McGary, chief assistant with the Warren County Prosecutor's Office, says his report could be done as early as Thursday night's commissioner meeting. Commissioners' questions regarding private and public streets came up at a recent commission meeting when officials were discussing a proposed Misty Meadows development in Harlan Township.

Kilburn said he'll "keep digging" for ways to halt the housing boom.

"We're not going to know any of this county 20 years from now if we don't slow this residential growth down," Kilburn said.

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E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com