Andover planning panel backs recommendation to Butler County to rezone Crest Crescent Heights parcels to commercial

The Andover Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Butler County Planning Commission approve a rezoning request that would return several parcels south of Kellogg near Fair 54 to county commercial zoning.

City zoning staff told the commission the properties lie within Andover’s extraterritorial planning area and that the property owners seek to restore a previous commercial designation that was reset to residential in a county-wide zoning revision. “In this case, we actually don't think that that's really necessary,” city staff said, arguing annexation by the city was not required before the county action.

Staff said the change would correct a nonconforming situation and that no physical redevelopment is expected after the rezoning; the owners’ primary goal is to restore the zoning to what it was historically. A commissioner moved to recommend approval of the application for rezoning from residential to county commercial for lands generally located in the Crest Crescent Heights subdivision; the motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote.

The recommendation will be sent to the Butler County Planning Commission, which is scheduled to consider the application on Feb. 3, 2026. The planning commission's action is advisory: the county, not the city, holds final authority on county zoning. The commission did not attach conditions to its recommendation and staff recorded no evidence of opposition during the local discussion.

Next steps: the Butler County Planning Commission will consider the request on Feb. 3, 2026; the Andover Planning Commission’s role is limited to forwarding its advisory recommendation.