Daviess County Fiscal Court approves rezoning for 1651 Parish Plaza Drive; zoning text amendment receives first reading

The Daviess County Fiscal Court on Sept. 4 approved a zoning classification change for a 6.103-acre tract at 1651 Parish Plaza Drive and gave first reading to a related text amendment to Article 8 of the Owensboro Metropolitan Zoning Ordinance.

The rezoning ordinance — recorded in the meeting minutes as KLC 9 21 Dot68708 Dash2025 — would reclassify the parcel from B-4 (general business) to R-3MF (multifamily residential). A county attorney read the ordinance language into the record, and the court voted to approve the rezoning after commissioners declined further public comment at the meeting.

The rezoning was recommended for approval by the Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission after a July 10, 2025 public hearing. The ordinance summary filed with the court says four aggrieved parties filed timely requests asking the fiscal court to hear the rezoning appeal. The court’s decision on Sept. 4 adopts the planning commission’s recommendation and references compliance with KRS Chapter 100.

Commissioner Larry Conder, speaking before the vote, emphasized the limited scope of the court’s action: “What we’re voting on is a zone change only. We are not voting on any proposed future use of these properties,” he said, noting that approval of a zoning classification does not itself approve any specific development plans.

Separately, the court took first reading of a text amendment to Article 8 of the Owensboro Metropolitan Zoning Ordinance (filed in the meeting as KLC 9 21 dot 68809 dash 2025). That item was described by counsel as a planning-and-zoning–initiated amendment; because it was a first reading, no vote on final adoption took place.

Why it matters: rezoning from commercial to multifamily residential can change permitted uses and development density on the parcel and may affect adjacent neighborhoods, traffic and municipal services if a multifamily project is later proposed. The court’s action advances the procedural step needed before any developer can submit site- or building-level plans for the property.

Key details and background: the planning commission record attached to the ordinance indicates the applicant as Walbach Development Company LLC and lists the tract size as 6.103 acres. The planning commission held a hearing on July 10, 2025 and recommended approval. Four parties filed appeals to the fiscal court as allowed by local procedure; those appeals were considered by the court before the final vote on the rezoning.

The court’s action changes the zoning classification on the county’s official zoning map; any future development proposals would still be subject to applicable site-plan review, building permits and other regulatory approvals.

Votes and next steps: the rezoning ordinance passed on second reading at the Sept. 4 meeting. The Article 8 text amendment was read for the first time and will return for a second reading before the court votes on final adoption.