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, released last winter, identifies several acres stretching along Baker Street, Erlanger and Riggs roads as a core area. According to Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission senior planner Andy Videkovich this would be a less intense development that complements development occurring in surrounding areas.

Several acres on either side of Cintonya Drive or a portion of Riggs Road are identified as Urban 1, which would include residential dwellings within close proximity to the core subdistricts. The intensity and density of the residential building forms may vary, Videkovich said. The area would include smaller, neighborhood-oriented commercial uses such as an artist’s studio or small shop.

Urban 2, on a portion of Riggs Road and Erlanger Road, would “maintain the existing fabric of the residential neighborhood while promoting slightly greater densities and expanded housing choices,” he said.

The scale and character of development within this area would be complementary to the single-family homes that currently exist, Videkovich said. He also said that under the code no one’s property would be taken and no owners would be forced to sell.

Bohman said he’s not buying into the project and doesn’t want it to include the residential areas.

“Businesses in a residential area is not fine,” Bohman said. “Leave us alone.”

Jeanine Schilling, who owns property at 481 Erlanger Road, home to child care, gymnastic and athletic training facilities, said she is cautious of the change.

“We’re all about improvement,” Schilling said. “But, what is written in this plan, I feel is detrimental and punishes us as property owners. The problem here is you’re impacting existing properties with this change.”

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Schilling said she’s concerned the regulations could put constraints on how she could upgrade. She also worries that certain regulations could increase the costs of an upgrade.

“Under the new zoning so much would be required of us that it’s financially unfeasible,” she said. “It should be up to the property owner to determine factors such as building design and form that may be suitable to the tenants and those served.”

According to Videkovich the new zoning regulations would not come into play for existing businesses if the improvements made are small or part of regular maintenance. The new guidelines would not apply, for example, if less than 25 percent of the facade is being worked on.

Videkovich said in the long run, the new guidelines would be there to “protect” the investment of current business owners. As they put money into improving their buildings with quality material, their neighbors and any new developers would be required to do the same.

Schilling believes that regulation would deter successful property owners from implementing upgrades.

The plan was set to go before the Erlanger Planning and Zoning Commission in early October, but consideration has now been postponed until January, Fields said.

“We are going to reconvene the committee that wrote the plan and make some changes to address the issues discussed (Sept. 9),” Fields said. “We will then schedule another public forum.”

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Source: http://www.cincinnati.com