By Susan Vela
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NORWOOD - Residents whose property is coveted by two developers say planning commissioners set the stage Monday for Anderson Real Estate and Miller-Valentine Group to eventually raze their homes for a $125 million expansion of Rookwood Commons.

Despite their protests at an hour-long hearing, planning commissioners told residents their neighborhood is bound to be developed - whether or not it's by Anderson and Miller-Valentine - and moved toward placing some planning controls on the area where 79 homes and businesses now stand.

Council members will review their decision and could decide by February whether to approve a " Planned Unit Development" (PUD) designation for the neighborhood bounded by Interstate 71, Edwards and Edmondson roads.

Anderson Real Estate and Miller-Valentine Group say the area is perfect for their proposed Rookwood Exchange, a mix of offices, apartments, condos and swank shops and restaurants. Rookwood Commons is a mixed-use development including, shops, restaurants and an open-air shopping mall.

"I feel like I've been thrown to the wolves," said Joy Gamble, an elderly woman who, with her husband, is refusing to sell their Atlantic Avenue home.

Along with several other protestors at Monday's hearing, she questions the city's decision to approve a PUD zone while Anderson Real Estate and Miller-Valentine work to buy the properties in the neighborhood.

"It's so ludicrous. There's a developer," said business owner Joe Doud, making a motion toward Brian Copfer of Miller-Valentine during the hearing. "Let's keep residential residential. There's no need for the city to get involved in this in any way, shape or form."

Developers have warned that they probably would ask council members to pursue eminent domain proceedings if they can't get all property owners to sell.

Eleven people spoke at Monday's hearing including some who already agreed to sell their homes. The four who spoke in favor of the pud noted the overwhelming presence of encroaching development and said the city should take control of what appears on the property.

A PUD means that any developer who succeeds in acquiring the property will have to work with planning commissioners on all matters pertaining to their project, including lighting, setbacks, parking, and paints used.

"The area has changed from a solid, residential area to a small neighborhood surrounded by high traffic volume streets and businesses," said Tim Grondin, who has agreed to sell his Edwards Road home. "I can't see any problems with the PUD. The city needs to maintain as much control as possible."

Mayor Joe Hochbein was the planning commissioner to most vocally support the concept of the PUD. He touted Rookwood Exchange. As a council member, he once represented the neighborhood now threatened by the development.

"It's been a world-class development whether you like it or don't like it," he said. And, "most people in that area want to sell. The neighborhood ... has been an odd area ever since I-71 went in. The city has to act in a way that's best for the community and that makes for difficult decisions at times."

E-mail svela@enquirer.com