MIDDLETOWN — A Franklin Twp. cemetery that is the final resting place of seven Revolutionary War and two Civil War veterans in a Union Road right of way likely will rest in peace after a traffic study indicates it may not be necessary to widen the road.

Future area transportation plans indicate Union Road as a parallel arterial road east of Interstate 75 that may need to be widened from two lanes to five lanes, according to Middletown and Warren County officials. However, a study commissioned by a developer does not call for more lanes on Union Road for a project that would include 22 office condominium buildings on 15 acres east of Union Road.

Allen G. Zaring III, chief executive officer of Great Midwest Development LLC, said the Renaissance Professional Village portion of the development likely will result in more than $40 million in new construction and could create more than 500 new professional jobs.

The proposed project raised concerns with officials of Grace Baptist Church, Franklin Twp. and other residents on how it would impact the church's property and athletic fields as well as the half-acre Dicks Creek Cemetery, which is one of the oldest in Warren County. Franklin Twp. took ownership of the cemetery in the 1990s.

Zaring, whose ancestors were Revolutionary War veterans, said he "would never suggest that veterans' remains be removed from their final resting place, nor do I condone the moving of the cemetery adjacent to our property."

He said the professional village "is a continuation of the original Renaissance Community Plan never contemplated the moving of the cemetery and the continuation of the plan does not propose it either."

Helen Campbell, Franklin Twp. administrator, said "that's wonderful news if they have no need to widen it."

"We were very concerned we'd have a long battle to keep them from (bull) dozing the cemetery," said Elmo Rose, Franklin Twp. trustee. "I'm glad it's over for the moment. But as the area develops, it's going to have to be widened."

The Rev. Roger Green, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, said his church will want to have a conversation with the developers to follow up on their plans, which is winding its way through the process for a final approval by the Middletown Planning Commission.

"If there is no reason or attempt to widen (Union Road), then we're not going to bother them," Green said. "We're not against the development."

According to the traffic impact study, the following improvements were recommended:

• Signalize the Ohio 122 and Hendrickson Road

intersections.

• Widen Ohio 122 to two through lanes in each direction and right turn lanes.

• Add double left turn lanes in the north/south direction to Union Road.

The study recommendation also noted that no traffic signal is required when Long Meadow Drive is built for the professional village that also will connect into the Renaissance residential development.

Martin Kohler, Middletown's planning director, said the city has contacted the traffic engineer who conducted the impact study for additional information. Kohler said the project is slated to come back before the planning commission in April.

David Duritsch, engineering and environmental services director, said the impact study submitted was missing some data.

However, while Union Road will have to be widened in the future, Duritsch said he did not think the Renaissance Professional Village would be the

project to trigger it.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or erichter@coxohio.com.