Commission recommends rezoning at 706 Jericho Road and approves two‑home development plan with binding conditions

The Oldham County Planning and Zoning Commission voted Sept. 23 to recommend the Oldham County Fiscal Court approve a zoning map amendment for 706 Jericho Road in LaGrange and separately approved a preliminary development plan to create two single‑family lots on the parcel.

Attorney Neil Sallier, representing Falls City Contracting, said the applicant’s intent is to subdivide the roughly 0.5‑acre parcel and build two single‑family homes. "If approved for the zoning change, subdivide this into 2 lots and put 2 single family homes on it to be used as single family residences," Sallier said.

Why it matters: The parcel is currently zoned I‑1 (light industrial). The commission and staff discussed whether commercial‑neighborhood (CN) zoning would permit future office or small business uses and how the development plan's binding elements would limit such changes without additional county review.

Staff summary and technical concerns Senior Planner Anna Barge described the site as a corner lot at Jericho Road and Kidwell Lane just outside LaGrange city limits. She said the parcel is recorded on the applicant’s paperwork as about one‑half acre; the proposed lots on the submitted plan are about 0.146 and 0.119 acres each once road/right‑of‑way deductions are applied. Barge noted the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (which owns Jericho Road) required access to be from Kidwell rather than Jericho; both driveways on the plan are shown on Kidwell.

County engineer Jim Silliman and other staff warned that CN zoning allows a broader set of uses than two houses; some uses (coffee shop, small restaurant) could trigger a traffic assessment or impact study. Silliman said the binding elements attached to the development plan — and the county’s requirement that changes to the plan return to planning staff or the commission — provide a mechanism to review any future higher‑traffic use.

Commission action and binding elements The Planning Commission recommended approval of the zoning map amendment to the fiscal court on a roll call vote of 12–1 (Mister Hampton opposed). Mr. Marsh moved the zoning recommendation; Miss Davis seconded. The commission’s recommendation included five binding elements to be applied to the development plan and carried forward as conditions: approval applies only to the plan presented on Sept. 23; no plan changes without Planning Commission and engineer review; compliance with federal/state/county ordinances and easement restrictions at construction‑plan approval; submission of a minor plat at staff level to create proposed Tracts A and B before permitting; and a minimum 7‑foot side‑yard setback adjacent to 650 Kidwell Lane.

The commission then voted 12–1 to approve the preliminary development plan itself (same dissent by Mister Hampton). The development‑plan approval carries the same five binding elements and requires that the minor plat be filed and approved before building permits are issued.

Discussion highlights and applicant response Applicant counsel and engineer told commissioners the lot’s industrial setbacks would make residential or most other uses impracticable under the current I‑1 zoning; CN was presented as a better fit for a small, neighborhood‑scale use or two houses. Neil Sallier said the goal is residential: two single‑family units. The applicant acknowledged that any future change to a commercial use would require county review and that parking constraints on this small corner lot would limit many commercial options.

Action summary (votes at a glance) - Zoning map amendment (PZ‑25‑026) — recommendation to Oldham County Fiscal Court: passed 12–1 (no: Mister Hampton). Motion by Mister Marsh; second Miss Davis. - Preliminary development plan (PZ‑25‑026) — approval of plan for two single‑family homes with binding elements: passed 12–1 (no: Mister Hampton). Motion by Mister Marsh; second Miss Nasser.

Next steps: The zoning recommendation will go to the Oldham County Fiscal Court for final action; the applicant must file a minor plat and then apply for any building and utility permits. If the owner later seeks a different commercial use, county staff indicated the plan binding elements and site‑plan review will trigger further review and, if necessary, traffic analysis.