By Ryan Clark
NKyTribune reporter
A physical gateway arch. Streetscape installations. The acquisition and reconstruction of four properties.
Then there’s the private investment of $2.8 million, as well.
It was easy to see why the The Lewisburg Thorofare Project won the very first RIPPLE grant from the city, announced at the commission’s regularly scheduled caucus meeting Tuesday night.
“They’ve already done a great job,” Community Development Manager Jeremy Wallace said.
In 2018, the city solicited applications for $300,000 in RIPPLE Effect funding. Officials received four qualified applications:
*The Lewisburg Thorofare Project
*Ritte’s Corner: Latonia Uptown Group
*20th Street Development: Eastern 4 Neighborhoods
*4th Street/5th Street/5th and Johnson: Mutter Gottes Neighborhood
A committee of staff from Neighborhood Services, Public Improvements, Business Development and the Legal Department rated applications and The Lewisburg Thorofare Project won out.
Focusing on the intersection of Pike Street, Western Avenue and Montague Road, the project’s plan calls for “a physical gateway arch on Pike Street, street/alley improvements, streetscape installations, and further improvements to Father Hanses Park,” the application reads.
“The project proposes a private leverage investment of approximately $2.8 million that includes acquisition and reconstruction of four parcels on Pike Street. The proposal also leverages volunteer hours as well as cooperation from other existing business and property owners.”
And while those in the Lewisburg neighborhood should be happy, those in the other neighborhoods shouldn’t fret. Part of the RIPPLE idea includes city officials working with the other neighborhoods to get their projects approved, too.
“It’s initiatives like this that make our community a unique and attractive place to live,” said Commissioner Shannon Smith.
Moving forward, the city will now wait for commission approval of the recommendation next week. After that, city staff will:
*Conduct a strength, weakness, opportunity and threat analysis
*Work with Lewisburg representatives on the scope, schedule, budget and logistics for the improvements
*Wait for Lewisburg officials to finalize private investments
*Bring back the final scope for Commission approval
“This has been a wonderfully successful experiment,” said Mayor Joseph U. Meyer, who noted he was in favor of continuing it.
Changes to Special Event Permit?
The City also proposed revisions to the Special Event Permit Tuesday night, which would, among other things:
*Update application deadlines
*Include the addition of insurance or other financial requirements to provide financial security for event personnel costs
*Revise appeal process requirements
City Solicitor Michael Bartlett made sure to note that the updates would not result in a change of fees or the date of acceptance, nor would it result in more or less events in the city.
He did say the city manager would now be able to consider the adverse effects on neighborhoods and businesses when deciding whether to accept a special event.
Also Tuesday …
Commissioners heard a presentation from Kendig Keast Collaborative (KKC), Dover Kohl & Partners (DKP), and Thomason & Associates regarding “the creation of a Neighborhood Development Code to replace the existing zoning ordinance to better address the context of Covington’s neighborhoods,” the proposal said.
In December 2018, the city entered into the contract, and phase one includes meetings with staff and stakeholders. The project should be finished by February 2020.
Commissioners agreed to two resolutions, one supporting “sustainable-based energy policies and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in order to slow or reverse the adverse effects of climate change,” and another to support ORSANCO (the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission), which is “considering giving up its responsibility to regulate the Ohio River.”
ORSANCO has existed since 1948 to control pollution in the Ohio River Basin.
The next regularly scheduled Covington Commission meeting will be a legislative meeting to take place at 6 p.m., Feb. 26, at the Covington City Hall at 20 West Pike St.
Contact the Northern Kentucky Tribune at news@nkytrib.com