Independence City Council unanimously approved a zone change Monday for the 375-home Meadow Glen community. Construction of the Fischer Homes neighborhood began this week on a 170-acre site across from the Kenton County Fox Run Golf Course.

The development will include lakes, streams, walking trails and children's play areas. The 40-acre Wolsing Woods Park, named for longtime property owners George and Laverne Wolsing, will be maintained as natural green space by the Kenton County Conservancy.

Home prices will start at $183,900.

"This was a great example of developers working with city officials,'' said Independence Mayor Chris Moriconi. "We had a number of concerns that they addressed.''

One of the 16 conditions that Independence officials required was larger lots. The developer had sought 50-foot-wide lots, but the city required they be 60 to 80 feet, Moriconi said. As a result, 35 fewer homes will be built. "It's rare that a developer will agree to do the larger lots,'' Moriconi said.

The Kenton County Conservancy also agreed to maintain the development's natural areas and walking trails, after city and county officials said that they couldn't take on the responsibility of another park.

U.S. Census estimates released in June showed Independence saw a 4.62 percent population increase last year - from 16,316 to 17,070. That was the second-fastest growth rate for a Kentucky city, ranking only behind Cold Spring.

Kevin Barbian, Independence building inspector, said that residential construction shows no signs of slowing.

Independence has 26 subdivisions under construction, Barbian said. Through August, the city had issued 349 permits for single-family homes this year. That's up from the 257 issued for the same period last year.

Barbian attributed those numbers to the city's proximity to major population centers and Kenton County's growth pattern.

"Independence offers a taste of the suburbs, but it's very close to Cincinnati and Florence,'' Barbian said. "You can get to Florence in 10 or 15 minutes and you can be in Cincinnati in 15 to 20 minutes. I also think it's the next logical growth area in Kenton County. Covington's filled up and there's not a lot of space in Taylor Mill.''

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