Council members introduced a major amendment to the Timber Ridge planned‑unit development on Tuesday, proposing to increase residential density on the remaining undeveloped portion of the site to 88 single‑family lots.

The change, submitted by Arbor Homes and introduced as Ordinance 2025‑33, would apply to about 34.48 acres of the 52.364‑acre Timber Ridge PUD. City staff said the proposed plan retains the original land‑use designations but raises the allowable number of lots; staff recommended further study of traffic impacts and supported additional buffering and architectural controls to protect existing homeowners.

"The proposal would allow 88 single‑family home lots on the remaining 34.48 acres," City staffer Merriman told the council during the introduction. He said Arbor Homes had incorporated staff recommendations including a second neighborhood entrance from US‑68, sidewalks on new streets, 30 percent private open space, preservation of existing vegetation where feasible, and commitments to conduct traffic and speed studies and to examine pedestrian connections to the Little Miami Scenic Trail.

Nearby residents who spoke during the audience comments urged the council to reconsider the density and the proposed connection to Ridge Road. "They want to put 89 homes on there — that's scrunching a whole bunch in there," said Penny Stewart of Ridge Road. She described her part of Ridge Road as a 19‑house dead‑end with no sidewalks or streetlights and warned that adding the proposed development would add hundreds of vehicle trips and create safety risks at a blind corner on Ridgeway and US‑68.

Robert Stewart, who also lives on Ridge Road, asked council to preserve the current cul‑de‑sac and to consider terminating the existing Timber Ridge connection to the new development so that traffic would not flow through the established neighborhood. He asked that staff and council consider converting the gravel court to a permanent cul‑de‑sac if the project proceeds.

Council members and staff discussed fire‑code and zoning constraints: because a single entrance limits a subdivision to around 30 lots under fire code, any plan for more than 30 lots requires a second access point. Staff noted Ridge Road already exceeds the city's maximum dead‑end length and that the proposed second entrance—identified by the developer—would satisfy access requirements. Brian, the planner who responded to questions, said connecting the new development to Ridge Road would meet those regulatory needs but acknowledged neighbors’ concerns about traffic and circulation.

Merriman emphasized that the introduction does not represent a final vote. "Introduction does not mean you're voting for or against it. It just means we're putting it before you at your next meeting for the public hearing," he said. Planning and Zoning held a required hearing on Nov. 12 and recommended council approval after public comment and staff‑requested changes.

Council members encouraged residents to participate in the Dec. 11 public hearing, when the council will consider testimony that can legally be weighed in a final decision. President Smith and several council members also said they planned to visit the site with staff to view sightlines and traffic patterns before the hearing.

Next steps: the council scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.; that hearing is the appropriate time for formal evidence and will be the first moment council can base its decision on the record.