Paducah City staff outline neighborhood revitalization plan, public hearings planned ahead of June adoption target

A city staff member told Paducah City officials and members of the public that planning staff is preparing a neighborhood revitalization plan that would inventory vacant lots, support small‑scale homeownership, encourage storefront and mixed‑use redevelopment, and reconstitute local redevelopment authorities. Staff also described outreach and a timeline that includes public hearings in May and a targeted adoption date of June 2.

The proposal aims to assemble several tools the presenter said could be used in the plan area: neighborhood signage, nominations for historic‑district status, a vacant‑lot inventory and an updated development finance framework. The presenter said the plan would create or reestablish entities often used for redevelopment (URC/URCA/RCA) and coordinate with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and developers to pursue infill and storefront revitalization.

Why this matters: staff said the plan is intended to make it easier to convert underused lots and to attract small retail, restaurants or offices that serve nearby residents. The plan also includes small homebuyer assistance to close affordability gaps and local measures to encourage density where parcels are buildable.

Key elements described - Vacant‑lot inventory and property controls: A member of the meeting asked about a figure of 404 vacant lots in the plan area; staff responded they do not have an exact count for that specific area and that existing inventories are being compared across neighborhoods. The article does not state a finalized total because staff described the number as not specified in this meeting. - Redevelopment authorities and governance: Staff described work to reestablish redevelopment entities (referred to in the transcript as URC, URCA and RCA) and said appointments and governance details are still being defined. Staff said the board structure has changed since 2019 and more discussion will follow. - Storefront/commercial strategy: Staff referenced a “cornerstone ordinance” and said recommendations from the city’s comprehensive plan consultant (Gary Mitchell, named by staff) will be used to align local codes and incentives to support small commercial tenants and mixed uses. Staff said they expect to receive recommendations from the consultant soon and then bring prioritized items to the governing body in phases. - Small homebuyer assistance: Staff described a proposed forgivable assistance product intended to help buyers close the financing gap. In the meeting staff mentioned a $2,000 forgivable loan as an example of a tool under consideration; staff described terms such as partial forgiveness if a home is sold within a set period, though many specifics were discussed as conceptual rather than final. - Trails and public‑space connections: Staff identified a proposed trail extension (referred to in the transcript as a Nash Park Service design/expansion, with options to route the trail from downtown to the South Side). Staff said route options and constraints are still in design and will be shown in the public‑review materials.

Public process and timeline Staff said they will publish draft materials for public review, promote them to residents within the primary plan area and schedule public hearings (staff indicated hearings likely in May). At least one staff speaker said an attorney recommended holding a public hearing and allowing time to respond to testimony before a final adoption vote; staff stated June 2 as a typical target adoption date if hearings proceed on schedule. The presenter said additional meetings or special meetings might be needed depending on public input and legal review.

Questions and concerns raised Residents and other participants raised practical concerns about existing infrastructure (curb, gutters and sidewalks), the small size of many lots, the feasibility of building on narrow parcels, and whether the proposed governance and evaluation processes will be sufficient if the plan area remains scattered and low‑density. Staff acknowledged those constraints and said the plan will examine density, buildability and finance tools to close gaps between current conditions and development costs.

Next steps Staff said they will take public comments on the draft, provide maps and design options in advance of the hearings, and return recommendations in phased items to the governing body for prioritization. No formal votes or motions were recorded during this presentation.