If the project clears the county review, and the planning commission makes a zoning recommendation, the proposal will be presented before the Deerfield Twp. Zoning Commission for review and recommendation to the township trustees who will make the final decision.
“We’re in the first step of reviewing to make a recommendation to the (county) planning commission,” said Daniel Geroni, a Warren County planner reviewing the proposal. “We started working on it in October to have a recommendation in December.”
Geroni said from his perspective, the proposed development fits the township’s comprehensive master plan. However, he said the county also looks at how it would fit with other neighboring master plans, such as Mason’s plan.
“We like to look at the municipal plans and think broadly and comprehensive,” Geroni said.
He said Mason’s master plan focuses on hotels, conference centers and upper floor residential with first floor commercial or retail, which may conflict with the township’s plan in that area. Geroni said the developer plans to hide parking out of sight behind structures, and that it would have an internal network of private streets, a community center and pedestrian trails.
Geroni said the development is similar to the mixed use around the Deerfield Towne Center.
“It has a cohesive mix of business and residential,” he said. “It’s more pedestrian oriented and has more of mix of uses. It’s interesting to have a pioneering development.”
Township Administrator Bill Becker said the process is expected to be completed in February.
“Apartments are a big thing lately,” he said. “We have two projects under construction in the Montgomery Road corridor.”
Becker said he was unaware of any opposition and that apartments are an appropriate use in the township’s master plan, but a zoning change is needed.
“I don’t know what the outcome will be,” he said. “It’s been on the market for a couple of years, but there have been no takers. I hope something will go in there because we don’t want to see a vacant hotel there.”
New apartments or condominiums would have a positive effect on business at nearby Thirsty’s Oasis Sports Bar & Grill, said Owner Rachhpal Sahota.
“The hotel closing did not have any effect; I think because of the over abundance of hotels on this exit, so customers are staying at other hotels,” Sahota said.
“But the apartments or condos that they’re building will bring new customers into this area,” Sahota said.
Sahota bought the bar and restaurant at 5579 Ohio 741 in 2008 and undertook a major renovation. It re-opened in February 2012 as Thirsty’s and features 60 beers on tap. Sahota said most of his customer base is locals.
“This area needs to be developed in a different manner. You need new residents,” Sahota said.
According to Pam Lindley of Hotel Development Services LLC of Oxford, Towne Properties approached the company last February about forming a joint venture to redevelop the site.
She said Towne had developed several other multifamily projects in the area in the past and continued to own and operate these properties. After additional research in the market to look at current trends, supply and a growing demand as well as their own existing operations, it was determined that multifamily would be the highest and best use for the Kings Island Resort property because it was in a highly visible, easily accessible and in a growing area.
Lindley said it was determined this type of housing would support job growth in the area and the need for first class housing is important in attracting new companies.
In a release, Lindley said conceptual drawings of the more than 300 one, two, and three bedroom units with desirable amenities including ample parking, a pool, clubhouse, entrance features provided as the gateway to the community to compliment the planned “boulevard” look of Kings Island Drive are soon to unveiled. The design has been created by PDT Architects to accommodate a mix of demographics wishing to live in a multi-unit community.
The 284-room inn, designed as an alpine lodge at 5691 Kings Island Drive, was built with the adjacent Kings Island Amusement Park that opened in 1972. At the time, it was one of the few lodging facilities in that area and over the years, the ownership changed several times. Lindley said the inn continued to prosper into the 1980s and 1990s.
The inn once hosted “The Brady Bunch” during the filming of an episode in 1973 at the park.
As Deerfield Twp. and Mason grew and attracted various corporate offices and other development, the market started changing. A large concentration of hotels and restaurants started to take place at the Fields Ertel/Mason Montgomery Road exit, just five miles south.
Lindley said the shift in the market place and the additional new room supply of national brands to the south has left the Kings Island Resort in a very poor competitive position, Lindley said. She said revenue from operations have been dropping substantially since 2010 creating significant losses causing the ownership to finally close its doors in early November.
An online auction is set for Dec. 15 for the furniture, kitchen equipment, bedding, etc., and most of the items were replaced within the last five years when the facility was purchased out off receivership in early 2009. More information about the auction can be found at onlinebidding.worleyauctioneers.com
Staff Writer Chelsey Levingston contributed to this report.
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