Council approves multiple zoning changes and neighborhood appropriations; one appointment sent back to committee

Louisville Metro Council on Jan. 30 approved a slate of zoning ordinances, neighborhood appropriations and related items during the meeting’s legislative session while sending one appointment back to committee for additional review.

Key council actions taken: - Approved an appropriation of $4,000 from neighborhood development funds to the Local Community Design Center, Inc., for the Lucille Leggett Neighborhood Institute (item 23). The clerk recorded 25 yes votes on the final roll call and the ordinance was adopted. - Adopted the Rabbit Hole expansion rezoning (item 24) that changes zoning for an approximately 2.45-acre block to EZ1 to accommodate the distillery’s expanded event and retail space; the clerk recorded 24 yes votes and 1 present vote. - Approved a 6.77-acre rezoning at 7203 East Manslick Road for a 40-lot townhouse development (item 25); the ordinance passed with 25 yes votes. - Adopted zoning for Beulah Crossing (item 26) to enable a restaurant/commercial use; the clerk recorded 25 yes votes. - Approved the Fabricated Metals LLC rezoning with added binding elements after committee discussion and amendments (item 27); the final roll-call tally was 18 yes votes and 6 no votes, and the ordinance was adopted with binding elements added to limit specific uses and address landscaping, delivery scheduling, and neighbor mitigation. - Approved additional zoning and small commercial rezoning items (items 28–29, including a 3-unit reuse at 120 N. 40th St. and a commercial expansion for Porkland Barbecue) by recorded votes; most passed with strong majorities (24 yes votes recorded on items 28 and 29).

Appointment returned to committee: The council voted 14 yes to 10 no to send to committee the appointment of Dionne Templeton to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board (item 30). Council members who supported returning the nomination to committee cited an unresolved perceived conflict of interest because the nominee works in housing development and the board makes funding decisions; proponents of the appointment said the nominee had answered questions honestly and urged the council to fix any ordinance issues citywide rather than hold a single applicant back.

Process notes: Several zoning cases included binding elements that council and staff negotiated in committee. For the Fabricated Metals LLC case (item 27) the council added multiple binding elements to require enhanced landscaping, efforts to schedule deliveries Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. where possible, an offer to work with an adjacent property owner on additional landscaping to reduce headlight impacts, and a list of industrial uses bound out of the zoning change.

What’s next: The ordinances adopted at this meeting take effect per standard local procedures; the appointment will be re-examined in Government Oversight, Audit and Appointments Committee per the council vote to return the nomination.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Item 23 — $4,000 appropriation to Lucille Leggett Neighborhood Institute: adopted (25 yes). - Item 24 — Rabbit Hole expansion rezoning (EZ1): adopted (24 yes, 1 present). - Item 25 — 7203 East Manslick Road rezoning (planned residential): adopted (25 yes). - Item 26 — Beulah Crossing rezoning (C1): adopted (25 yes). - Item 27 — Fabricated Metals LLC rezoning to M3 with binding elements: adopted (18 yes, 6 no). - Item 28 — 120 N. 40 Second St. (R7 request denied by planning commission; council upheld commission denial): adopted as denial (24 yes to uphold denial). - Item 29 — 338 N. 25th / Porkland Barbecue rezoning (C1): adopted (24 yes). - Item 30 — Appointment of Dionne Templeton to Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board: sent back to committee (14 yes to send back; 10 no).

Ending: Council members said several of the zoning items had extensive committee review and that binding elements addressed many community concerns; several speakers noted language-access and outreach gaps in some zoning hearings and urged improved notice for non-English speakers in future planning processes.