Church seeks annexation of 27 acres for new subdivision; city officials weigh housing need and emergency services

Pastor EJ Lanham, pastor of Field of Grace Church, told the Shepherdsville City Council that his congregation wants the city to annex 27 acres the church owns so a developer connected to the church can build housing there.

Lanham said the parcel could yield "67 to 85" homes depending on layout and submitted local market research showing limited for-sale inventory: he told the council there were about 258 single-family listings in Bullitt County and roughly 25–40 inside Shepherdsville city limits. He said the church’s pricing target for the subdivision would start around $285,000 and run up to about $450,000, and that the developer expects some buyers to be eligible for USDA rural housing loans that reduce down‑payment requirements.

The proposal drew follow-up from real‑estate contacts summarized for the council. Council members and staff said Helen Heights (an adjacent residential development) has sold quickly at price points the presenters described; a real‑estate agent working the area reported that Helen Heights has closed about 30 houses and continues to sell at median prices in the $275,000–$310,000 range, according to the agent as reported at the meeting.

Chief Jody Craig, Shepherdsville fire chief, said he reviewed emergency coverage for the parcel and reported two nearby fire hydrants and routine mutual‑aid relationships with county and nearby departments. Craig told the council the property is roughly 5 minutes from Interstate exit access and “just under 6 miles from Station 2,” and said his crews train monthly with neighboring departments. He said existing units can handle the area now but recommended beginning planning immediately for a new fire station as growth occurs; he said a realistic timeline for acquiring land and a station could be two to five years and that a fire apparatus purchase can take three to four years once ordered.

Council member Brad volunteered to sponsor the annexation ordinance; the council did not take a final vote on annexation at the meeting. Mayor Jose and staff said any annexation decision would consider public‑safety resources, water and sewer availability, and other public‑facility needs identified in the city or county plans.

The council asked staff to include the information presented — developer layout, estimated price range, nearby hydrant coverage and response‑time notes — in the packet for formal consideration at a future meeting. No adoption vote on the annexation ordinance was recorded at this meeting.

The presentation and the chief’s remarks framed annexation as a linked question of housing supply and public‑safety capacity: council members explicitly noted the city’s role is to review and condition approvals to ensure new development can be served by fire, water and other city resources.

Looking ahead, council members said they will schedule the annexation ordinance for the formal reading and continued review; staff will supply maps, hydrant locations and any interjurisdictional service agreements before a final vote.