Published: November 21, 2007 08:26 am      

County planners OK two zone changes

Properties at two intersections of US 421 will be rezone for commercial use if the Madison Fiscal Court accepts the recommendation of its planning commission.

A 5-acre tract in the northwest corner of US 421 and KY 3376 (Old US 25) would change from RC-7 (Urban Agricultural) to RC-4 (General Commercial) as would a 10-acre tract on the east side of US 421’s intersection with KY 1016.

The southwest and northeast corners of the US 421/KY 3376 intersection already are zoned commercial. Kingston Elementary School is near the intersection’s southeast corner.

Both changes were adopted without opposition. Commissioner Wanda Singleton, who was listed as a co-applicant with William Noble for the zone change at US 421/KY 3376, abstained from that vote.

Pat and Scott Rucker are seeking the zone change near the US 421/KY 1016 intersection.

A development plan for Crouch Enterprises, which is seeking to establish an auto sales lot at 2385 Irvine Road, near the intersection with Charlie Norris Road, and the final plat for Shiloh Cove Phase I on Lexington Road were approved without opposition.

The commission also voted to recommend creation of a new zoning category, UC-4a (Interstate Commercial), that could be applied to properties around Interstate 75 interchanges.

The classification would permit “clean, light industrial uses” such as wholesale businesses, warehouses, manufacturing and repair services for which storage of raw materials or finished products are not visible outside buildings.

Services stations, auto repair shops, amusement and entertainment centers would be permitted conditionally. Professional offices also would be allowed.

Three other changes to the county’s land-use regulations also will be submitted for the fiscal court’s approval.

• Permits for driveways and other entrances to county roads would be required, similar to the state’s requirements for entry to state and federal highways.

• Developers’ performance bonds would be subject to proper erosion and storm-water control for three years.

• A new standard note would define utility easements for subdivision plats.

Richmond Planning Commission

The Richmond Planning and Zoning Commission also met Tuesday night and previewed three final plats and a development plan.

Several residents of Deacon Hills subdivision were present and expressed concern about potential development on land below phase one of the adjacent Heritage Place subdivision, all of which is zoned R-4 (Mixed Residential).

The plat for phase one, which will be up for approval at the commission’s Nov. 28 business session, is consistent with an R-1 (Single Family) zoning. The residents expressed concern that apartment buildings, allowed in an R-4 zone, might be built on the remainder of the property.

City Attorney Garrett Fowles said he believed a land-use restriction, adopted when the zoning was changed to R-4, prohibited construction of apartments. The developer requested the R-4 zoning because it would allow construction on single-family condominiums, he said.

Fowles said he would review the ordinance and report his findings at the Nov. 28 meeting.

Commission Chair David Rush said the commission needed to review and update the R-4 definition because it was originally written to accommodate the construction of public housing and some of that original language was retained when zoning classifications were later revised.

Planning Director Michael Roberts said the commission had an open agenda for its Dec. 18 meeting and recommended that the R-4 definition and other items be reviewed then.

No objections were voiced to final plats for Persimmon Trace at Golden Leaf off Duncannon Lane and Hampton Ridge Phase III off Four Mile Road.

The development plan for Colonel’s Ridge, a privately owned student housing complex on Cycle Drive off Boggs Lane near the Sherwin-Williams manufacturing plant, also was previewed.

The plan calls for 12 residential structures and a clubhouse. The complex would contain 276 bedrooms, totaling 552 beds.

The three plats and the development plan will be voted on during the commission’s 5:30 p.m. Nov. 28 meeting at City Hall.

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.