And on the heels of that discussion, we hear again of these plans.  Oh, brother!  From the 11/13/04 (Lebanon) Western Star:

 

 

Huge community may be on the horizon

Oregonia ‘rural village’ could add 3,000 homes over 30 years

 

Preliminary plans for a 3,000-acre community near Oregonia could come as early as next spring, a Cincinnati developer said this week.

 

It would be one of the largest developments in Warren County history.

 

http://www.western-star.com/hp/content/news/2004/11/11/ws1111develop.html

By Tami Sanderson-Reineck Staff Reporter 

DEERFIELD TWP. - Wary residents hope new development in the township proves worthwhile.

 

"I think some of the developments are good ones and some aren't so hot, but overall I believe the township has done much better over the last four or five years. I hope the trend continues, but I worry about decisions that may be made because of the input from residents who aren't experts but act and talk like they are," resident Penny Markle said.

 

The CVS Pharmacy development is in stage two review of its site plan review. The proposed building is expected to be 11,970 square feet on 2.23 acres on the northeast corner of Montgomery Road and Columbia Road. There will be 63 parking spaces on this site, which includes the 1.3 acres where the closed Hardee's restaurant is located and one acre recently rezoned from residential single family to neighborhood business with a planned unit development (PUD).

 

Warren Co. is fast becoming a great case study in the issue of urban sprawl.  From the 11/15/04 Enquirer:

 

 

Township-city merger posed

Group says it would halt further annexations

By Erica Solvig

Enquirer staff writer

 

HAMILTON TWP. - Some folks in Warren County's fastest-growing township, caught between two communities eager to expand, want to head off any more annexations by merging with the village of Maineville.

 

The proposal, still in the infancy stage, would make the area an incorporated community with a population large enough to be a city. And it would help block neighbors like South Lebanon and Loveland from taking any more land.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041115/NEWS01/411150355/1077/NEWS01

More...from the 11/17/04 Enquirer:

 

 

Growth limit idea on hold in Warren

By Erica Solvig

Enquirer staff writer

 

LEBANON - The battle over using a "congestion of population" strategy to restrict development will be fought another day.

 

Warren County commissioners had hoped to sort out some legal questions about the idea - which is being considered as yet another way to limit growth - with a Columbus-based attorney on Tuesday. But because of miscommunication between county officials and lawyer Richard Brahm, no legal opinion was ready.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041117/NEWS01/411170363/1056

There seems to be a story on this daily.  In fact, it's getting old.  It seems like the focus of the daily paper is increasingly shifting north.

 

Anyway, here's today's talker...from the 11/19/04 Enquirer:

 

 

Consultants urge comprehensive Warren County subdivision plan

By Erica Solvig

Enquirer staff writer

 

LEBANON - A growth management consultant told Warren County officials Thursday the way they plan for and approve new subdivisions needs an overhaul.

 

But it will be weeks before Sandra McKew, president of Strategic Public Policy, presents the county with potential solutions.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041119/NEWS01/411190381/1056

From the 11/24/04 Enquirer:

 

 

Warren officials want new growth projections

 

LEBANON - Warren County could have a better idea by the end of the year of what the county will look like when it is completely built out.

 

Commissioners on Tuesday approved an extra $7,000 to have their Hudson, Ohio-based consultant, Strategic Public Policy, complete such a study.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041124/NEWS01/411240359/1056

completely built out? No county in ohio is completely built out so why even bother?

I thinnk Warren County is starting to come across as bi-polar. One day it is halt growth and the next day they are approving 5,000 lot subdivisions.

 

They are talking the talk now lets see them walk the walk.

completely built out? No county in ohio is completely built out so why even bother?

They mean putting together a long range county-wide zoning plan and then sticking to it.

 

Monte--I agree.

Warren County seems to be pro-growth one day, then anti-growth the next.  This is from the 12/17/04 Enquirer:

 

 

Warren calls halt to building

Freeze affects sewer tap-ins to Lower Little Miami

By Erica Solvig

Enquirer staff writer

 

LEBANON - In a drastic measure to control growth, Warren County commissioners are freezing plans for more subdivisions in the southern part of the county.

 

Commissioners on Thursday imposed a six-month moratorium that prohibits the water and sewer department from recommending that any more houses get sewer connections to the Lower Little Miami Waste Water Treatment Plant.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041217/NEWS01/412170459/1077/news01

 

Warren county loves to sprawl. Travel SR 48 from I-71 to past Mainville. It looks like it might be designated urbanized pretty soon.

I love the Norwood Lateral!  Its a great shortcut and crosstown highway, allowing me to get to (or from) I-75 from Rookwood Commons and Hyde Park

 

So why not a similar crosstown route in southern Warren County?  Extend OH 129 to I-71, and maybe to US22, to service that growing area north of Mason.  This would also be a nice shortcut allowing people to avoid the increasingly crowded I-275.

 

 

 

Hmm, that has potential to be hot...and it is already going to sprawl anyways  so no worries about strip malls popping up. I agree with taking the heat off 275, the part from 71/75 is REDICULOUS, at 5:30 it could take you an hour.

Actually, the City of Hamilton had pushed for the Interstate Connector 129 (Fox Highway or whatever we are calling it these days) to connect to I-71.  The trouble with the plan I BELIEVE was that work on obtaining right-of-ways had begun but a golf course being developed between 75 and 71 didn't want to sell.  I believe planning didn't get much further and Hamilton was just happy to the the Interstate Conector going  . .. FINALLY after 50 years or so since the planning of I-75, Hamilton would have an interstate.  (Growing up I was always told Hamilton was the third largest city in the US without and interstate.  Wow, what a claim to fame.)

Bah.

That route would take out new subdivisions that have just been built.

Here's my quick sketch.  It only takes out a few homes (and cuts through the golf course), but it follows a lot of rights of way.

According to the timeline below, the decision to stop SR 129 at I-75 happened in May 1988.

http://www.bctid.org/brh/history.html

It's wasteful to build more highways in the region when the region population is only growing marginally.

No one likes my 3 minute drawing with a total lack of property considerations or environmental impacts?

Its great, GC...mine was sort of connect the dots, but yours is more detailed....tho it does take out that old gunpowder plant (or whatever it was) over on the Little Miami....

 

 

So doesnt Monte live around Mason?  Wonder what his take is on it?

 

 

It's wasteful to build more highways in the region when the region population is only growing marginally.

well the metro is much much larger than when the first highways was first built. And this one is in a high growth area. And to tell you the truth  I think highways bring growth.

It's wasteful to build more highways in the region when the region population is only growing marginally.

well the metro is much much larger than when the first highways was first built. And this one is in a high growth area. And to tell you the truth  I think highways bring growth.

 

Unless a region is very underserved by highways, I'm skeptical that they create much growth in the region.  I doubt a little connector is going to sway a company's decision to expand in or relocate to the region.  You're definitely correct that the Mason area is growing quickly, but it's not really growth, only redistribution, because it is in excess of the region's population growth.  It's creating duplicative public roads, schools, sewers, etc.   A connector highway like this would further the wasteful redistribution of the region's population and investment to greenspace. The added costs of building and maintaining public services in newly-settled areas around the highway (as well as the cost of building the highway itself) is likely to outweigh any gains.

Here's my quick sketch. It only takes out a few homes (and cuts through the golf course), but it follows a lot of rights of way.

 

Heh...goes right thru River's Bend (Along SR 48 just south of the Little Miami

Looks like it goes through Crooked Creek subdivision too.  To extend Route 129, they would have to plow through subdivisions - hey wait they did that to Queensgate to build I-75, but we all know that wouldn't happen today in suburbia.

 

Tylersville, is pretty much the only connector and it isn't pretty to get from I-71 to I-75 via Tylersville during rush hour but I am sure it beats I-275 during that time.

 

All it was poor planning but come on this is Ohio, why change now.  They widen I-75 to 4 lanes north of I-275 but not south.  Backwards planning.

 

I will add this aerial for you to see why extending Route 129 is doomed!

 

Scroll at the bottom ===========>>>>>>>>  Look at the top right...

 

 

That's an outdated picture too. It's amazing how sprawling Cincy is getting.

Looks like it goes through Crooked Creek subdivision too. To extend Route 129, they would have to plow through subdivisions - hey wait they did that to Queensgate to build I-75, but we all know that wouldn't happen today in suburbia.

 

Correction...they did that to the West End.  "Queensgate" is an urban renewal construct.

 

[/i'm a dork]

I was referring to this:

 

 

I get a tear everything I see this pic.  I wish I could find a larger one in print that I could have framed.

That picture is amazing.Cincy would have been another Philly if the depression didn't hit.

This makes you wonder if they read these forums..lol

 

Warren Co. leaders study I-71/I-75 link

Major road improvements needed for connection

By Erica Solvig

Enquirer staff writer

 

LEBANON - Warren County leaders are considering multimillion-dollar road improvements in Lebanon and Mason as a way to create an east-west connection between Interstates 71 and 75.

 

A new bridge over the Little Miami and an overhaul at the notorious Fields Ertel exchange that could cost up to $150 million also are possibilities for helping motorists in Greater Cincinnati's fastest-growing county. Members of the Southwest Warren County Transportation Task Force agreed Friday that major investments are needed to handle existing traffic and to cope with future congestion.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050129/NEWS01/501290413/1056/NEWS0102

Yeah, that'll work....

It's the start of I-875 I tell you!  :evil:

http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/i875.html#875oh

That will never happen. I can see the northen side hook up with 275 on both ends though.Like an arc at the top of the loop.

Good lord...a 225-mile outerbelt is JUST what we need.

That's not enough! We need more highways!  Here's my proposal.

Why even bother with streets at all? Let's go all-highway, with individual offramps to each garage.

^ Sure!  I'm already working on an idea for a casino in which the off ramp dumps off directly onto the gaming floor.

 

Perhaps your ambitious idea can be Phase II.

Whoever thought tearing down half of the city and creating Queens Gate should really be ashamed.  Can you imaging what an incredible neighborhood that would be today if they had not leveled the whole thing.  I hate whoever did this.

 

Clicky Clicky

 

http://www.plan4swwarrenco.com/home.asp

 

This makes you wonder if they read these forums..lol

 

Warren Co. leaders study I-71/I-75 link

Major road improvements needed for connection

 

There's no reason why a connection couldn't be made a few miles north with nearly the same benefits/consequences. 

 

875 was proposed decades ago -- 840 is actually under construction around Nashville.  It didn't pass the federal cost/benefit review but Tennessee is building it anyway as a state highway.  A fairly significant segment of approximately 30 miles connects I-40 and I-65 to the southeast and you're lucky to pass more than a dozen cars in the opposite direction.  Its route needs to cut through Ashlee Judd's property south of the city so it's presently held up and will be held up until she dies and her kids sell off the property.   

 

Folks, spend some time in the South if you want to witness some seriously outrageous road construction.  I lived for four years in Knoxville and the construction NEVER subsided.  New highways were under construction all over the place and of course existing ones were perpetually being expanded.   

I thought this story belonged here.  From the 2/13/05 Enquirer:

 

 

More streets in Mason possible

Council considers plan to ease new traffic

By Erica Solvig

Enquirer staff writer

 

MASON - Opening a mega-mall and an indoor water park may require building more roads and another highway intersection in order to accommodate the traffic.

 

Several new streets are suggested as part of a revised thoroughfare plan that city council is expected to consider Monday. The roads would be close to The Beach Waterpark, Paramount's Kings Island and two new projects - the Great Wolf indoor water park and conference center and a 1-million-plus square feet shopping and restaurant center.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050213/NEWS01/502130437/-1/back01

 

WOW big plans for yet a small growing city.

Yet another development being questioned...from the 2/24/05 Enquirer:

 

 

Neighbors oppose 588-lot project

Warren planners today will review subdivision

By Dan Sewell

Enquirer staff writer

 

LEBANON - Neighbors riled by a proposed subdivision in Turtlecreek Township are challenging the developer's plan, which goes today before the Warren County Regional Planning Commission.

 

Residents near the Greentree Road site of Valley View Farms are concerned about the impact on traffic on the two-lane road, added demands on water and other infrastructure, and an overall worsening of congestion. The development could have 588 lots.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050224/NEWS01/502240379/1056/news01

 

^ REJECTED!!!  From the 2/24/05 Enquirer:

 

 

Warren Co. rejects proposed subdivision

By Dan Sewell

Enquirer staff writer

 

LEBANON - Warren County leaders took another stand against growth today, rejecting a proposed 588-lot subdivision in Turtlecreek Township.

 

Members of the county's Regional Planning Commission cited "congestion of population" and heavy impacts on traffic and schools as they turned down plans for Valley View Farms along Greentree Road, near the Greentree Golf Club just east of Interstate 75.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050224/NEWS01/502250330

 

:-o  A rejected subdivision in Warren County!?!?!   :-o

 

After the vote, Phillips said: "Their efforts to control growth are out of control."

 

Umm, actually, I think it's the growth in Warren County that is out of control, Mr. Phillips.

^ LOL.  Well, he's an attorney representing developers, after all....

From the 2/26/05 Enquirer:

 

 

Turtlecreek was slow to grow

Now township residents, officials struggle to cope

By Dan Sewell

Enquirer staff writer

 

TURTLECREEK TWP. - John and Nancy Terry thought they had staked out their claim to rustic, tranquil living by buying a two-acre lot along rolling Greentree Road.

 

"It was country living; the view, the quiet, the privacy. We were away from the city," he said, recalling their move from Lebanon.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050226/NEWS01/502260432/1056/news01

 

Warren County pursuing builder fees

Commissioners propose voluntary payment

 

By Erica Solvig

Enquirer staff writer

 

LEBANON - Sick of waiting for state lawmakers to entertain impact fee legislation, Warren County commissioners have decided to work with area homebuilders and see if they'll agree to the fee locally.

 

Commissioners in the region's fastest-growing county Tuesday announced they are forming a committee of developers, school superintendents and representatives from the farming community and chamber of commerce to study impact fees. The charge, which Warren officials have previously proposed to be as much as $10,000, would be imposed on each new home built, to generate money for local school districts, several of which are overcrowded.

 

Still looking at impact fees...from the 3/12/05 Enquirer:

 

 

Pay to grow: Warren looks at impact fees

County task force to convene

By Erica Solvig

Enquirer staff writer

 

LEBANON - While state lawmakers tinker with the idea of impact fees, Warren County commissioners are forging ahead with their own plan to get new residents to pay for the additional schools, roads and parks the area will need.

 

Commissioners this week created a 15-member task force that includes themselves, four homebuilders, three school superintendents and the county auditor. Their charge: Find an amount large enough to help out crowded schools but small enough that homebuilders are voluntarily willing to add them.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050312/NEWS01/503120368/1056