The planning process for the reconstruction of Red Bank Road in Madisonville and Fairfax will proceed during 2012, but construction funds are not available for years. 

The next planning meeting involving ODOT officials and local residents to discuss Red Bank Road will be held at Medpace, 5375 Medpace Way in Madisonville, at 7 PM on Wednesday, February 15.   The actual construction on Red Bank Road does not appear likely to happen until 2020 or later, according to Michael Moore, director of transportation and engineering for the City of Cincinnati.

For planning purposes, ODOT considers Red Bank Road to be part of its proposed Eastern Corridor roadway to link I-275 near Milford to both Columbia Parkway in Fairfax and to Exit 9 of Interstate 71 (Red Bank Road) in Madisonville.  If built, the Eastern Corridor roadway would relocate State Route 32 from the Eastgate area in Clermont County, following the east/west portion of the Little Miami River through Newtown and south of Mariemont before merging in Fairfax withboth Columbia Parkway and Red Bank Road.

Last summer, the Cincinnati City Council held a public hearing on Red Bank Road at the Madisonville Recreation Center.  Approximately 350 residents of Madisonville and nearby communities attended the hearing.

Last month in Columbus, ODOT Director Jerry Wray announced that a lack of funds from state and federal sources has pushed back construction timelines for a large number of transportation projects across Ohio.     For example, in Clermont County the construction of a portion of the Eastern Corridor roadway at the interchange of State Route 32 and Interstate 275 near Eastgate Mall has been pushed back from 2016 to 2019.  Also, in Cincinnati and St. Bernard, the addition of two more lanes to Interstate 75 from the Norwood Lateral toMitchell Avenue has been delayed 14 years, from 2016 until 2030.   For a complete list of these planned construction delays across the state, see ODOT’s January 17, 2012 construction-timeline document at http://www.dot.state.oh.us/trac/TRAC%20List/Recommended-DRAFT-TRAC-List-1-17-11.pdf.

As for Red Bank Road, ODOT had previously allocated money in its 2012 and 2013 budgets to step up the planning (but not actual construction) of Red Bank from Columbia Parkway to I-71.   Steve Mary, ODOT’s district deputy director based at the ODOT District #8 office in South Lebanon, recently confirmed that planning for the reconstruction of Red Bank Road will continue as previously announced.   Mary said that ODOT would not apply for constructionfunds for Red Bank Road until further along in the planning process.

Michael Moore, the City of Cincinnati’s transportation/engineering chief, said in an interview that because the Eastern Corridor construction along Route 32 near EastgateMall has been delayed until 2019, it is fair to assume that the construction on Red Bank Road in Madisonville and Fairfax is not likely to begin until sometime after 2019.   

Moore said that the precise timetable for construction on Red Bank Road will depend on several factors, including decisions made in Washington on transportation appropriations bills and the determination of what transportation planners term as the “preferred alternative” path and design for the Red Bank corridor.   When decided upon, this “preferred alternative” design and right of way will determine the how large the project ultimately is, the costs for construction and the degree of utility impacts (on underground gas pipelines, overhead electric lines, electric substations, etc.).  The preferred alternative will also determine the amount of new land acquisition that is specified in those final designs for Red Bank Road.

This April, 2012, Cincinnati will begin the community visioning process ―a city-wide “charrette” from  April 20^th-24^th ― to begin using  this innovative new tool for revitalizing neighborhoods and streamlining the development process. It is an open process ― everyone is invited to participate. The result will be a template that provides the basis for a neighborhood specific  form-based code.

 

Four neighborhood-specific charrettes are scheduled for fall 2012.

 

The charrette  will build on the work over the last two years by expert consultants. Opticos Design has analyzed  barriers in our existing code, best practices from around the country, compiled an analysis of several Cincinnati neighborhoods, and held several training sessions for neighborhoods and developers. Read more about the city’s form-based codes study and review the Opticos reports here.

 

One critical aspect of form-based codes is the relationship of buildings to the street. Rick Hall and Associates is currently developing new street standards for the city as part of Plan Cincinnati, the city’s first comprehensive plan in 30 years.

 

This summer and fall, once the citywide charrette is complete, the city will bring forward text amendments to replace the current zoning code for Planning Commission and City Council approval, and as mentioned previously, four lead neighborhoods will organize neighborhood-level charrettes to develop neighborhood-specific codes.

 

A little background:

Form-based codes have been described as the ‘DNA of livable communities,’ creating healthy, vibrant neighborhoods and business districts that are walkable and bicycle- and transit-friendly.

 

Form-based codes foster predictable built results and a high-quality public realm by using physical form (rather than separation of uses) as the organizing principle for the code. They are regulations, not mere guidelines, adopted into city or county law. Form-based codes offer a powerful alternative to conventional zoning.

Form-based Codes Institute

 

Hundreds of cities across the country, including Miami and Denver, have adopted form-based codes. Placemakers has compiled an excellent list of resources, including a study of initiatives around the country, available here.

 

Since 2008, I’ve been working with neighborhoods around the city to make this powerful alternative to conventional zoning available to our Cincinnati neighborhoods.   As part of that work, we’ve made four trips to Nashville to learn about their experience over the last ten years and see on-the ground results.

 

Under the direction of Metro  Planning Executive Director Rick Bernhardt, Nashville has replaced it’s conventional zoning with a ‘Community Character’ approach that is based on the’ look and feel of neighborhoods, centers, corridors and open spaces.’

 

The result? A 75 percent increase in taxable value in the districts where the approach was used over five years (2003-2008), compared to a 28 percent increase in the county over the same time period.

 

The Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy will be opening a new school in Madisonville in fall 2011. 

The new school is a second location for CCPA . The current location is rated Effective with 22 out of 24 of the state benchmarks being met. You can see the state report card on line.  Please join us at our next community council meeting to find out more information. 

	Challenge each student to work at top academic potential
	Inspire students to pursue high education
	Educate the whole child (body, mind, and spirit)
	Build positive character traits
	Prepare students for their future aspirations

For more information on this fantastic duo, visit their website at www.stateofchassis.com

OAR offers $2 cat spay/neuter throughout December

Ohio Alleycat Resource & Spay/Neuter Clinic is a non-profit organization located at the corner of Peabody and Roe.  We provide low-cost, high-quality cat spay/neuter surgeries, or as some call it, getting cats “fixed”.  Thanks to a generous grant, we are offering $2 cat spay/neuter throughout the month of December, a price which includes a rabies vaccination with no additional charges.  This special is good for Madisonville residents only, and applies to your pet cat, or outdoor cats you may be feeding.  Whether you like or hate cats, spay/neuter is the only effective method of permanently reducing their numbers in our neighborhood.  Don’t have a way to get to our clinic?  Know of a cat that needs fixed, but don’t have the money?  Please contact us - we are committed to helping our Madisonville neighbors in cases of need.  For an appointment, or more information, please contact our clinic at 871-0185.