STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
The Barren County Land Use Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. in Glasgow City Council chambers, its final meeting before an Oct. 19 public hearing on proposed zoning. The proposal would affect county residents living outside incorporated areas.
The committee meeting will take place inside the Luska J. Twyman Municipal Building, 126 E. Public Square.
Planning director Kevin Myatt has previously said the committee advises planning commission staff as they develop the county’s first comprehensive zoning ordinance at the request of the Barren County Fiscal Court. The draft runs more than 100 pages.
“This is an advisory committee,” Myatt said. “Their purpose is to help and advise the staff of the planning commission write the best possible document that is requested by the Barren County Fiscal Court.”
Previous committee discussions included Article 16, which addresses merchant electric generating facilities. Myatt said those provisions cover construction such as solar farms, wind turbines and other alternative forms of commercial energy generation.
Members also reviewed a revised Article 17, which would regulate high-intensity technological infrastructure, including large data centers. The committee formed after community members sought more information about regulating potential data center construction in Barren County.
The committee also reviewed a proposed zoning map at its meeting in September. At that meeting, Myatt said the map was a draft in progress and asked committee members and the public to review it.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the committee members are expected to review the suggested changes, and make any final suggestions for the map and the zoning ordinance.
The committee includes five citizens, two magistrates and three Planning Commission members.
The proposed ordinance would establish 10 zoning districts and set rules for where different types of development could locate and what requirements they would have to meet. It includes provisions for residential, agricultural, business and industrial uses.
If the commission approves the proposal, the fiscal court will consider adopting it. The ordinance would require two readings before it could become law.
Glasgow, Cave City and Park City already have zoning regulations. Areas of the county outside of those cities do not have zoning. The push for countywide zoning was sparked after a data center was proposed in Cave City. A portion of the property where the data center was proposed is in the county.
The proposed ordinance includes a separate section for high-intensity technological infrastructure, which covers developments such as data centers and solar farms. Under the draft, those developments would be allowed only as conditional uses in Heavy Industrial districts. Proposals would require review by the Board of Adjustment and the planning commission.
Key Facts:
– The Land Use Committee meets Oct. 13 at 6 p.m.
– The public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
– Both meetings are in Glasgow City Council chambers.
– Proposed zoning would affect residents outside incorporated areas.
– Article 16 addresses commercial electric generating facilities.
– Article 17 addresses infrastructure such as large data centers.
What’s Next:
The Joint City-County Planning Commission’s Oct. 19 hearing will consider the ordinance text, proposed zoning map and an amendment to the 2024 comprehensive plan’s future land use map, according to public notices. Myatt said final adoption would require fiscal court approval, including passage on second reading.
Questions may be directed to the planning commission at 270-659-0661. Comments may be sent to barrencountyplanning@gmail.com.
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