October 27th, 2005 - WHAS11.com
Louisville, KY – It is a piece of land that’s a developer’s dream, but neighbors in the area want to make sure it doesn’t turn into a traffic nightmare. They’ve been fighting over what to do with a piece of land on Herr Lane for nearly 30 years. It is a piece of property right across from Ballard High School, a cornfield.
On Wednesday night, a potential developer met with local residents trying to ease their fears on what the land might become. Even late in the evening, you must still deal with traffic on Herr Lane. Many neighbors worry traffic concerns won’t be addressed in time.
Some who live in the area think the drawings of the Providence Point development look lovely. It’s the roads in front that they are worried about.
“It’s kind of hard to get out of the neighborhood now,” says Betty Kennedy. “So that will just make more traffic.”
Pat and Betty Kennedy live in nearby Crossgate, where they say they fight Brownsboro and Herr Lane traffic everyday.
“You’ve got a lot of schools that are off Herr Lane,” says Pat Kennedy. “The buses stop, left hand turns and you can’t go around the buses.”
“I know this has been a contentious issue long before I’ve been here,” says Jeff Burnett who also lives nearby. “And folks out here are very concerned and involved and want to see this is done properly.”
About 70 neighbors met Hagan Property managers to ask questions about the planned development. Condominiums, offices and small retail stores would be built directly across from Ballard High School.
“We were aware of the traffic concerns and a lot of what we’re proposing in the plan is really oriented to addressing issues concerning traffic,” says Jim Mims.
The developers want to expand Herr Lane to four lanes in front of their property and add a traffic signal to benefit Providence Point as well as the high school.
“If they’re able to do that, it won’t be too bad,” says Pat Kennedy. “But if they leave it like it is there are going to be some problems.”
Hagan Properties commissioned a traffic study and said they’ll discuss it with neighbors after the study is complete.
Some neighbors asked about drainage. Developers planned to double MSD requirements for drainage on their property.
Most water runoff should go to the collection basins at Ballard High School.