Ongoing concerns about the impact on the Shaker Mill subdivision of a large residential development on Cumberland Trace Road were allayed somewhat Friday morning.

Warren County Fiscal Court, following the recommendation of three “viewers” who examined Shaker Mill Bend Road and Shaker Mill Road, voted 5-0 Friday to continue the temporary closure of access from the new development to the narrow Shaker Mill Road until improvements are made to the road.

The viewers – county Road Department Supervisor Jerry Young, City-County Planning Commission Executive Director Ben Peterson and county Stormwater Management Director Jack Wright – presented a document that recommended continuing the road closure. The document also said: “Improvements should include at a minimum widening Shaker Mill Road from Shaker Mill Bend Road to Cemetery Road to a width of 18 feet and/or making any necessary spot improvements to improve safety at key locations.”

County Public Works Director Josh Moore said approving the viewers’ recommendation “gives us the ability to prohibit the connection until improvements are made. The developer can build the connector, but it won’t open.”

Concerns about the impact on the narrow road stem from a 256-acre development along Cumberland Trace Road that includes plans for about 300 single-family homes and 120 multifamily town homes. The long-term plans put together by developer Luke Williams include 22 acres set aside for a new Cumberland Trace Elementary School.

Because of the size of the development, many residents in the Shaker Mill area turned out for planning commission and fiscal court meetings to express their concerns about increased traffic.

Those who showed up Friday left somewhat pacified, although they didn’t get the permanent closure of the connector road they hoped for. Peterson did report Shaker Mill Road will be closed to construction traffic while the development is being built.

“That’s good, because we don’t want any heavy equipment going through there,” said Joseph Perkins, a Shaker Mill resident.

Another Shaker Mill resident, Steve Hill, said: “Traffic is bad on Shaker Mill Road now. If they open it up to the new subdivision, we could have a huge amount of traffic. I would like a permanent closure (of access from the new development).”

Shaker Mill residents had asked for such a closure at a planning commission meeting in August, only to be told that connection through so-called stub streets is required under the county’s subdivision regulations.

The stub road would connect to the 24-foot-wide Shaker Mill Bend Road, but it then connects to Shaker Mill Road, which is only 16 feet wide.

Moore explained that the county owns 50 feet of right of way along Shaker Mill Road.

“Our road department will work with the people out there and get it wide enough to put a stripe down the middle,” Moore said.

Fiscal Court dealt with some other residential developments Friday.

The magistrates approved on second and final reading the rezoning of 29.8 acres on Old Scottsville Road from agriculture to single-family residential in order for Alvaton Land Partners LLC and Scott Gary to develop as many as 95 residential lots. The development plan for the property that is near Alvaton Elementary School calls for homes of at least 1,600 square feet with two-car garages.

Approved on first reading was the rezoning of 16.1 acres at 687 Carter Sims Road from agriculture to single-family residential. Developer Barrett Hammer plans to subdivide the property into as many as 64 lots. The development plan calls for the homes to be at least 1,600 square feet and have two-car attached garages.

Also approved Friday:

• Spending $24,237.32 to Blaine and Associates for illegal open dump cleanups.

• An expenditure of $45,000 to C & P Construction for repairs to the Hadley Volunteer Fire Department station.

• Paying Hale Roofing $1,700 for a new roof for the chapel at Basil Griffin Park.

• A resolution adopting an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for resurfacing portions of these four county roads: Winston Road (County Road 1146), Phillips Road (CR 1135), Iron Bridge Road (CR 1140) and Hays-Smith Grove Road (CR 1038).

Those road improvements will be funded with $286,976 in KYTC discretionary funds. The resurfacing repairs address existing surface cracks, potholes, rutting, crumbling shoulders and base failures, according to a KYTC news release.

“There’s a good possibility they’ll end up being paved after the first of the year, depending on weather,” Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon said.