Board approves two road-frontage variances to allow split of 1309 South Buckeye Lane parcel

The Oldham County Board of Adjustments and Appeals on Aug. 6 approved two road-frontage variances to permit the subdivision of an 8.1-acre property at 1309 South Buckeye Lane in Goshen into two parcels.

Planning staff told the board the proposed Lot 1 would be 4.617 acres and have 40 feet of county road frontage after the applicant agrees to extend South Buckeye Lane 40 feet; the ordinance requires 300 feet for AG-1 or CO-1 zoned parcels of 2.5 acres or greater, meaning Lot 1 required a 260-foot variance and the 3.501-acre residual Lot 2 required a 300-foot variance because it would have no county or state road frontage.

The request was presented by John Hein of the Oldham County Planning Division and argued for by attorney Michael Swansberg for the applicant. Swansberg cited Kentucky law and told the board that KRS 100.243 permits boards of adjustment to grant dimensional variances after finding that "the granting of the variance will not adversely affect the public health, safety, or welfare, will not alter the essential character of the general vicinity, will not cause a hazard or nuisance to the public, and will not allow an unreasonable circumvention of the requirements of the zoning regulations." He said the parcel is a legal nonconforming lot that had no county road frontage when the ordinance was enacted and that the requested variances are needed so the owner can subdivide in a way similar to other properties in the zoning district.

County engineer Jim Silliman told the board the applicant must build the 40-foot extension to county pavement standards and provide appropriately sized culvert calculations; he said the segment likely needs to be long enough to accommodate a hammerhead turnaround for county plows. Neighbor Kenneth Handmaker and his attorney, Mike Gregory, said drainage and long-term maintenance of the private roadway are concerns; Gregory said the existing access dates to the 1970s and there is no shared maintenance agreement for the private drive. Planning Director Ryan Fisher noted that the required minor plat and subsequent staff review will notify agencies including the fire department and allow technical review of drainage and access.

The board approved two separate motions: one granting the 260-foot variance for proposed Lot 1 and a second granting the 300-foot variance for proposed Lot 2. Conditions recorded by the board require that the variance(s) apply only to the plan considered at the Aug. 6, 2025 hearing, that a minor plat and survey be submitted and approved by staff prior to issuance of any building permits, and that any road improvements meet Oldham County engineer standards and be approved before acceptance into the county road maintenance system. Both motions were seconded and carried.

The approvals allow the applicant to proceed to platting and the county review process; technical details such as final culvert sizing, turnaround dimensions, and maintenance agreements will be resolved during staff review before any permits are issued.