County denies rezoning request

The developer of proposed 227-home addition outside Ashland failed to persuade the Boone County Commission to approve his plan Tuesday night.

Miller Properties LLC proposed the development, dubbed Shadowridge Estates, for a tract nearly one mile west of Ashland. It asked that the commission rezone 114 agricultural acres for residential and commercial use.

After hearing complaints from residents who feared that the new development would increase traffic and overbur-den the town’s water lines, the commission voted unanimously, 3-0, against the measure.

“I just don’t think that the timing is right,” Southern District Commissioner Karen Miller said.

According to Keith Schnarre, presiding commissioner, the approximately 4000-foot gap between Ashland city limits and the proposed Shadowridge project is too far for the town to stretch. Each of the commissioners sighted the pro-ject’s density as a reason for their no vote. Ashland residents who attended the meeting to oppose the development echoed that concern.

“If he developed it into 2½-acre lots, the residents out here would not have much to say about it,” Norman Baker said before the meeting. “It is the density of this piece that goes way up and beyond.”

Following the commission’s denial, developer Danny Miller said that he will try to revive the project through legal means before considering the possibility of a future proposal within the Ashland city limits.

“I will look into it but I am not giving up yet,” Miller said. “I am a long way from whooped at this moment.”

Chad Sayre, vice president of Allstate Consulting, presented Miller’s case to the commission. He denied allegations from residents that the project was an example of “leapfrogging,” a term used to describe developments that promote sprawl by building beyond the reach of nearby communities.

Ashland resident Eric Fogle criticized Sayre for working for Allstate Consulting while also serving as a city engi-neer.

“As far as me working for the city of Ashland? Does that make feel awkward? Absolutely not,” Sayre said.

The Boone County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously rejected the proposal on May 19 in their recom-mendation to the commission.

Planning Commissioner Carl Freiling said Tuesday before the meeting that there is no need to build outside Ashland city limits when space remains for development within the city.

“Rezoning is not a right. It is a right to ask, but the commission’s obligation is not to landowners but to the general welfare to citizens of the county,” Freiling said.