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Nicholasville commissioners weigh Cedarhurst gate request; opt for signage, monitoring and review after construction
Summary
City staff and commissioners discussed a request from Cedarhurst senior-living management to gate the Keene Center Drive access due to cut-through traffic. The commission directed staff to install signage, monitor traffic after nearby construction ends and revisit the matter, rather than authorize a permanent gated closure of city right of way.
City of Nicholasville officials discussed a request from the director of a Cedarhurst assisted-living facility to install a gate on Keene Center Drive to stop cut-through traffic, then directed staff to install signage and monitor conditions rather than immediately authorize a gated closure.
Tim (city transportation/public works staff) described longstanding access planning along U.S. 27 that relied on frontage and backage roads to limit turning movements and keep traffic off the mainline. He told commissioners that since Cedarhurst opened in about 2022, the facility "is getting cut through traffic," and said he observed 10–11 vehicles in one hour (7:50–8:50 a.m.) using the access during construction on I‑69/27.
Cedarhurst director Tina Bade (participating remotely) requested permission to put a gate on the Keene Center Drive access and to retain primary access from U.S. 27. City staff and public-safety officials raised concerns about a locked gate in the city right of way and noted that a gate triggered from the Cedarhurst side would still allow vehicles to exit and therefore would not prevent through-traffic coming from U.S. 27. One staff member said a gate on Keene Center Drive would likely be located in city right of way, which would require approval.
Commissioners discussed alternatives including signage, temporary enforcement and waiting until construction on the bypass/intersection is complete to see whether cut-through traffic declines. The board agreed to ask public works to post "no through traffic/private property" signage at Keene Center Drive and at the connection to the bypass, to have enforcement provide warnings as appropriate, and to revisit the request after nearby construction is finished. Commissioners noted Cedarhurst could install a gate on its private property but that a permanently chained or locked gate on city right of way would raise public‑safety and access concerns.
No formal motion or ordinance was adopted; the board’s action was direction to staff to install signs, increase monitoring/enforcement for warnings, and reassess conditions after I‑69/27 construction is complete.
Ending: Staff will install signage and monitor traffic patterns; commissioners will reevaluate the need for further action once construction ends and after additional data are collected.
