Thursday, March 11, 1999
Cold Spring planners reject development
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLD SPRING — Residents battling a $20 million commercial development proposed here won a major victory Wednesday night when the Cold Spring Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously against the project.
The commission's vote not to recommend the development, planned for the 18 acres at the northwest corner of U.S. 27 and the AA Highway, now goes to Cold Spring City Council.
The council will vote at its April 20 meeting on whether to approve or deny a zone change that would clear the way for construction of the development — which would include a 100-room hotel, a conference and banquet center, and restaurants.
“This project is not the highest and best use of the property for the residents of Cold Spring,” said zoning commission member Paul Johnson.
The vote came after nearly four hours of testimony. A crowd of more than 200 people turned out for the meeting, which had to be moved from the Cold Spring City building to a nearby Baptist church because of the large crowd.
On one side was developer Jack Morris and his team of attorneys, traffic engineers, real estate consultants, planners and other experts, many of whom testified during the hearing.
On the other side was a group of residents who have been fighting the project because it is planned for a vacant tract of land next to the Sturbridge subdivision, where many of the opponents live.
“I feel like public enemy No.1,” Mr. Morris told the residents as he testified before the commission, apologizing for causing “so much trouble.”
“I thought this was something that was good for the community,” Mr. Morris said, adding that if he doesn't develop the property, somebody else will.
“This is not going to go away,” he said.
Other nearby parcels are being developed.
A 200,000-square-foot Meier store is scheduled to open this spring on another corner of the same intersection. And another developer is considering building 80,000 square feet of retail space and 224 apartments on another corner.
But the residents are fighting hard to keep the tract near their homes free of commercial development. They fear more traffic, lower property values, and more noise and crime in their neighborhood.
The fight is hardly over.
Even though most residents expect council to follow the zoning commission's recommendation and deny the zone change on the property, which is now zoned for houses, Mr. Morris can appeal council's decision by filing suit in Campbell Circuit Court.
He had a court stenographer record the testimony.
Cold Spring City Attorney Justin Verst warned the residents that a lawsuit is likely to be filed.
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