Planning commission recommends rezoning near Olive Church Road for fuel station

The Paducah Planning Commission on March 3 recommended that the Board of Commissioners approve rezoning several parcels near Olive Church Road from R-1 Low Density Residential and B-1 Convenience and Service to M-1 Light Industrial to allow a new fueling station.

Planning staff summarized the request as a rezoning to M-1 to permit a fueling station by right and said the change conforms to the City of Paducah comprehensive plan and the recently adopted future land use map. “This is a rezoning request from R 1 Low Density Residential And B 1 Convenience And Service Zone, the M 1 Light Industrial Zone,” staff said, adding the city adopted the future land use map on Jan. 25, 2025.

The commission’s recommendation follows a public hearing in which an attorney for the petitioner, Zach McMillan, told commissioners RaceTrac is “in total agreement with the staff report.” McMillan said the site is across the street from two existing fueling stations and pointed to recent rezoning and industrial developments nearby. Kevin Eeks, a civil engineer with Boller Engineering, said traffic and access details are being finalized and described the proposed access points: “So the main entrance on Cairo Road is gonna be the western entrance, furthest from the intersection.” Eeks also said a second entrance is proposed and that the Kentucky Department of Transportation may require it to be a right‑in/right‑out depending on the traffic study.

Staff and the petitioners told the commission the proposed building would be about 8,100 square feet with 29 passenger vehicle parking spaces and 20 semi‑truck parking spaces. Staff noted the most recent traffic count on Olivet Church Road was 4,977 vehicles per day in 2022 and that adjacent M-1 zoning around the site mitigates spot‑zoning concerns.

Commissioner Benberry moved the recommendation; the motion included a statement of findings of fact that the M-1 classification is consistent with the comprehensive plan, that the site is appropriate for industrial use given location and traffic counts, and that adjacent M-1 zoning negates spot zoning. The motion was seconded and approved by roll call (ayes recorded for Commissioner Benberry, Commissioner Griffin, Commissioner Kaler, Chairman Wade). The commission’s action is a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners; final approval rests with that body.

Discussion at the hearing centered on access and traffic mitigation; commissioners asked where the main entrance would be and were told the western entrance from Cairo Road is planned and that the second entrance’s configuration depends on the traffic study and KYTC review. Petitioners and staff said the rezoning would support industrial and refueling uses and could spur redevelopment of underutilized parcels in the area.

The commission closed the public hearing after receiving the petitioner’s presentation and public testimony and voted to send a favorable recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.

Less critical details: the petitioner’s representatives at the meeting included attorney Zach McMillan of McMurray & Livingston, civil engineer Kevin Eeks of Boller Engineering, and an on‑site RaceTrac representative, Alan Bell. The petition packet included schematic site plans and exterior elevations.