Despite having three public hearings on the Joint City-County Planning Commission's agenda very few members of the public attended. Only those whose property was on the agenda for consideration and those involved with the West Main Street project attended. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Members of the Joint City-County Planning Commission gathered in the Glasgow Common Council chambers Tuesday for its monthly meeting. Commissioners discussed the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, a text amendment and approved a subdivision’s plat schematic.
The main bulk of the meeting was dedicated to public hearings, all of which Planning Director Kevin Myatt said were properly advertised in accordance with Kentucky Revised Statute. Despite having three different public hearings on the commission’s agenda no member of the public — save for those who had stakes in the property being discussed — attended the 7 p.m. meeting.
The first hearing involved a zone change from its current two family residential classification to a general business district. According to Myatt this zone change is necessary as a clerical error in 2008 resulted in the property being overlooked,
“When we brought the Cave City Zoning Ordinance in and adopted it in 2008 this property was overlooked; we misplaced the zoning on it,” Myatt said. “It had a residential zoning classification assigned to it when it should’ve had a commercial zoning classification.”
According to Myatt the property at 103 N. Dixie Hwy. in Cave City is “clearly commercial not residential” though it does border family homes to the north. It was unanimously approved by the 13 commissioners with the next step being review by the city council once the commission’s minutes are approved.
The next public hearing continued the work begun on Jan. 30 where Myatt hosted a public hearing in the Barren County Fiscal Court chambers. The hearing involved the 2024 Comprehensive Plan that outlines the goals and objectives of the commission. Though the plan contains the five areas required by KRS and four more, Myatt said not a lot has changed other than some acronyms and the inclusion of alternative energy wording.
“This plan does not set legislation, it just tells you what you’re good at and what you’re bad at…but other legislative bodies can utilize this document to help elevate them in the grant process,” Myatt said.
The plan was approved by the commission and will go to the fiscal court for its approval.
The final public hearing was an attempt to speed up subdivision approvals. Myatt explained they made two groups of subdivisions that is determined by the number of divisions and work that is done. If a subdivision is between six and 19 divisions and does not require the creation of a new road, the widening of an existing road or significant construction work then individual inspectors may sign off on the plans without needing to take it before the full commission.
Myatt stressed that even if a subdivision does not go before the commission it still needs to meet the standard requirements. The amendment also added street culverts to the checklist of things needed to get a new subdivision approval.
“It’s a small change but I feel like it’ll be a monumental change for us,” Myatt said.
Like the comprehensive plan this was approved and is heading to the court for final approval.
After the public hearing portion had concluded Tommy Gumm, chairperson of the commission, was presented a “preliminary and final plat” for Blevins Subdivision located off New Salem Road. The plat proposed 17 tracts of varying sizes and two new proposed fire hydrants. It was unanimously by the 13 members.
Much of the other agenda items were dedicated to variances for the proposed justice center on West Main Street and can be read here.
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