Cincinnati City Council has approved the creation of a Planned Development District (PD-57) that could bring a light industrial park and pet cemetery to the former Gray Road Landfill in Spring Grove Village.
Eighty-six acres at 5511 Winton Road will be rezoned from single-family and manufacturing/agricultural use to make way for the development of Graystone Business Park and The Willows at Spring Grove Pet Recreation and Cemetery.
The Graystone Business Park is envisioned as a LEED-certified mixed-use project of 12-13 business lots, on two to three acres, and one-story buildings between 20,000 and 30,000 square feet.
Approved uses could include light industrial, distribution, warehouse, office/flex, and research and development.
The Willows at Spring Grove would consist of a 1,800-square-foot office and display room building, 40,000 burial plots, a half-mile walking trail, a reflection pond, prayer garden, crematorium, and surface parking for 20 vehicles.
Not completely sold
The landfill occupied the property for 24 years, but closed at the end of 2007 as a result of a consent agreement between Gray Road Fill, the City, and Gray Road residents, who had fought for years to stop the ever-increasing footprint of the dump and the non-stop truck traffic through their neighborhoods.
The Spring Grove Village Community Council originally endorsed the new redevelopment proposal, but since has pulled its endorsement for the business park aspect of the project due to residents' concerns about what could end up being built there.
"Based on the lack of communication from Graystone Business Park, and the fact that we are no longer ensured the project that we are promised, Spring Grove Community Council, on behalf of the residents of Spring Grove Village, no longer recommend or support this project until such time and place as we are assured the project we were promised," said council president James Beauchamp in a September 8 letter to City Council.
A more detailed final development plan must be approved by the City Planning Commission before building permits can be issued.
Site preparation could begin by late this year, and construction of buildings could begin by the end of 2010.
Previous reading on BC:
Rezoning could bring development to former dump site (9/9/09)
Gray Road landfill rezoned (10/29/08)
EDC to consider rezoning for Gray Road landfill (10/14/08)
How will Gray Road landfill be redeveloped? (6/23/08)
