By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Trustees have approved rezoning to allow 84 homes in a new section of Wetherington, the Tristate's first large gated community.

Construction is expected to begin soon at Harbor Town Village on 26 acres off Hamilton-Mason Road, following the vote Tuesday night.

But some Wetherington residents still are threatening legal action against the Wetherington Homeowners Association for entering into a contract with the project's developers, Great Traditions.

The contract permits Harbor Town to link to Wetherington via a second gated entrance connecting the two subdivisions. Harbor Town also will have its own gated entrance off Hamilton-Mason Road.

Residents along St. Ives Place at the back of Wetherington worry Harbor Town cars will flood their small street, which does not have sidewalks. Dozens of small children live on the street.

The St. Ives neighbors are upset that all Wetherington residents did not get to vote on the connection before the homeowners association board OK'd it.

"The majority of this neighborhood does not approve of this, and that is why the homeowners association board did not let us vote. They knew the majority of the homeowners were opposed," said Tammie Harrison, 40, of St. Ives Place.

"We are fighting for the safety of our kids."

Kevin Plank, president of the Wetherington Homeowners Association, said the board was within its legal rights to enter into the agreement with the developers.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.