By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - Warren County has hired a consultant who pledges to create a "cutting-edge, sophisticated system" to manage the residential growth.

Commissioners met with Sandra McKew, president of Strategic Public Policy, on Thursday night and approved a letter of agreement to hire the Hudson, Ohio-based firm to do an estimated $24,000 study. Over the next three to four months, the firm will evaluate the county's policies and help customize what McKew described as a legally defensible growth-management strategic plan that made sense fiscally as well.

"Your development is occurring at a unique time when several things are conspiring against you," McKew said to about 50 people. "As a result, the amount of development which is occurring in Warren County right now, particularly laid over what essentially is a rural infrastructure base, I think that you're really reaching a crisis point at several places in the county."

Thursday's meeting was the latest forum the commissioners have held over the last few months in an effort to better manage the residential growth that has made this Greater Cincinnati's fastest-growing county and the 52nd-fastest in the nation.

McKew's firm has drawn up similar plans for other cities and counties, including Hudson, which is known for limiting residential growth.

The study should help county officials focus on what ideas would best work at this point, since development is occurring at a rapid rate.

County commissioners have discussed a number of ideas, including making changes to the subdivision regulations and imposing a moratorium on building for a set amount of time.

McKew suggested that the timing of the new subdivisions, having open-space standards, and establishing growth area boundaries also might be considered.

"We're working very hard to find where that balance is," Commissioner Pat South said. "We haven't been able to find that magic formula."

But Commissioner Mike Kilburn argued that he does not want to see this become a "management plan for more growth."

"I don't want to sugarcoat this thing," Kilburn said. "I want a management plan for no growth, or limited growth."

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com