By Steve Kemme
Enquirer staff writer

ANDERSON TWP. - When William West decided five years ago to move back to Greater Cincinnati after a long absence, he knew right away where he wanted to live.

John Coleman and Kelly Ware with RKC Increte Systems put a sealer coat on one of the crosswalks that lead to the new clock tower at the Anderson Towne Center. (Enquirer photo/ERNEST COLEMAN)

"Anderson Township was the only community I really considered," said West, who lived in Anderson in the 1970s. "I like the wholesomeness, the trees and the community family life."

This affluent southeastern Hamilton County suburb has held a similar allure for tens of thousands of people in recent decades.

Anderson's key selling points include its upscale, green-belted subdivisions, a low crime rate, a fine park system, dramatic hillside vistas, its proximity to downtown Cincinnati and the high-quality Forest Hills School District.

But with growth slowing as vacant land diminishes, Anderson Township is taking stock of itself.

Will it continue to prosper now that it's reached maturity? Or will it follow the downward economic spiral of some of Hamilton County's older suburbs and see some of its neighborhoods decline and businesses and the more affluent families move out?

For the past year, Anderson officials, staff, business leaders and residents have been wrestling with those questions as they develop a comprehensive plan designed to maintain property values and improve the quality of life.

"You don't wait until everything deteriorates," Anderson Township Trustee Russell Jackson Jr. said. "You have to get out in front of it."

Although there isn't much land left for new, major subdivisions, Anderson officials still believe a comprehensive plan can make a big difference in the township's future.

The township still has 5,400 acres with potential for development.

Of that, about 300 acres are undeveloped industrial land and 2,000 acres aren't constrained by flood plains and steep slopes.

"If you look forward 20 or 30 years, you have to be concerned you maintain the same quality of development and property values," Township Trustee Albert Peter said. "It's too easy, through neglect, to move in a direction you might not like."

Anderson is a sprawling township of 31 square miles bounded by the Ohio and Little Miami rivers, Cincinnati, Newtown and Clermont County.

First settled in the late 18th century along the Little Miami River, Anderson was primarily farm country until the post-World War II suburban boom. Fueled by the construction of the Beechmont Levee and, later, Interstates 275 and 471, Anderson's population climbed from 17,250 in 1960 to 43,851 in 2000.

Although Anderson has many middle-class neighborhoods, the median value of its homes is $157,900, $46,000 above the county's, and the median annual household income is $70,997, $30,000 above the county.

While Hamilton County has lost more than 80,000 residents since 1970, Anderson has grown significantly in each of the last three decades.

"We don't want the township to start losing population like Hamilton County has," said Paul Drury, assistant township development director.

In an effort to preserve its standing as one of the county's most desirable communities, the township and its comprehensive plan are focusing on these issues:

• Beechmont Avenue

Long considered one of Greater Cincinnati's poster children for bad planning, Beechmont Avenue is congested and lined with an unsightly mish-mash of strip malls, discount stores, auto sales lots and other businesses.

"I strongly dislike Beechmont Avenue," said Lee Leines, who moved to Anderson two years ago. "I avoid that road at all costs."

To improve traffic safety, right-turn lanes have been added at busy intersections and a new synchronized traffic signal system on Beechmont that's designed to improve traffic flow will be completed this fall.

The comprehensive plan will identify areas along Beechmont for redevelopment.

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"The ideal thing would be to have a hometown look on Beechmont, something that identifies it as Anderson Township," township trustee Peggy Reis said.

Steve Sievers, township development director and coordinator of the comprehensive plan process, says the improvements in Beechmont's appearance and traffic safety will take time.

"It didn't happen like this overnight, and we're not going to fix it overnight," he said.

Residents complain about the Beechmont corridor's lack of upscale, high-quality retail stores and fine-dining restaurants.

Debbie Tully, who has lived in Anderson for 10 years, said she often has no choice but to drive to Rookwood Pavilion and the Rookwood Commons in Norwood and Kenwood Towne Centre.

"I just hope we get some good retail stores and restaurants so we can stay in our own community to shop and eat," Tully said.

• Anderson Towne Center

Plans call for the northeast corner of Beechmont and Five Mile Road, the former site of the Beechmont Mall, to become the community hub that Anderson has never had.

The centerpiece is a redeveloped mall, Anderson Towne Center, now under construction. It will include a Kroger (the largest in the chain), the existing Lazarus store and other retail stores and restaurants. A movie theater remains a possibility.

But the commercial component is only part of the township's vision for that area.

In back of the Towne Center will be a Metro park-and-ride facility and a lake, which will be created to hold the water runoff in that area and to provide aesthetic appeal. A civic, government and arts center also might be built there.

• Industrial development

To strengthen its tax base, Anderson has targeted the Ancor Industrial Area in the township's northeast corner for more light industrial development.

The only drawback to this Broadwell Road area is its poor access to major highways. Township officials are lobbying the county to build a connector from Broadwell Road to Ohio 32.

"Once that's done, we're sure that area will build out very quickly," Jackson said.

• Riverfront development

Acreage along the Ohio River in Anderson includes Coney Island, Riverbend and River Downs.

Township officials believe it has potential as an entertainment district, with riverfront restaurants, a reception center and possibly a major hotel.

• Quality of life

Anderson is trying to link its parks and its subdivisions with sidewalks and bike and walking trails.

The township has built four miles of sidewalks in the past four years and plans to build five more miles.

The Anderson Park District recently opened Beech Acres Park on Salem Road. It includes an outdoor theater, an arts and recreation center and the township's first skateboard park.

"Now I don't have to go to Florence or Middletown any more to skateboard," said 15-year-old Corey Larrison, during a skateboarding break. "It's a nice place to skate."

Anderson Township is trying to lay the groundwork for a solid, prosperous future.

"We're at a real crossroads right now," Tully said. "If things are done correctly now, there will be good changes. I'm hopeful."

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E-mail skemme@enquirer.com