COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTES TO EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN
February 14, 2006-- Those interested in learning about and contributing to a preservation plan for the Country Estates Historic District and River Road area had their opportunity at a public meeting on January 24. The Ohio River Bridges Project team met with approximately 30 citizens to discuss the results of a Nov. 2005 stakeholder information-gathering event and get additional feedback. The three-day November event, called a charrette, included one-on-one interviews, open working sessions and field research.
The meetings are part of the development of a Historic Preservation Plan (HPP) for the Country Estates of River Road Historic District/River Road Corridor. Located in Eastern Jefferson County in the vicinity of River Road and U.S. 42, the historic district of more than 700 acres is one of seven historic districts or properties in the Project area for which an HPP will be developed.
At the public meeting, held at Kentucky Country Day, attendees viewed a brief introductory presentation. Following that, individuals could take part in the open house portion of the meeting and visit three stations set up throughout the room. Project team members staffed these areas and worked with citizens to answer questions, explain maps and displays and take their comments. Those comments were expressed verbally, on maps or flipcharts or through written comment forms.
In the open house area, one station displayed the results of detailed research about the area and a summary of what citizens have already told the team of experts. The second, focusing on context sensitive design, allowed individuals to see the range of design approaches that could be taken to maintain the historic character of the area and still meet engineering needs and safety standards. Focusing on planning, the third station provided information about land-use planning and related issues for the area.
Comments from attendees indicated that they are concerned about noise, light and vibration coming from the new roadway in the area, and from roadway construction. Other discussions focused on the possibility of implementing planning measures like additional historic district designations and conservation easements.
Along this stretch of the Ohio River, the historic district contains a string of contiguous estates, many with historically significant designed landscapes. Most of the properties were built in the early 1900s and are representative of the “Country Place” era, the designed landscapes were planned by the Olmsted Brothers firm, and other highly respected landscape design firms.
This HPP process will outline ways in which the designers of the Kentucky East End Approach can maintain, and in some cases enhance, the historic character of the district with advance planning and implementation of aesthetic treatments. The plan will also be a tool for local leaders to retain and improve the vitality of the historic area.
“This district is a valuable resource for the community and we certainly want to maintain the historic character of these beautiful homes and landscapes. We intend to work with the community to ensure that this piece of history is still preserved well into the future,” said Jeff Vlach, Environmental Commitments Manager for the Bridges Project General Engineering Consultant, Community Transportation Solutions (CTS-GEC).
A team of historic preservation and urban planning experts from CTS-GEC is developing the plan with involvement from the section design team in the area, led by H.W. Lochner.
The plan development process includes historic and field research, interaction with area stakeholders and consultation with members of the Project’s Kentucky Historic Preservation Advisory Team.
The HPP is mandated in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), part of the Record of Decision, the document that concluded the Project’s environmental process in late 2003.