Commission adopts change to county zoning rules requiring traffic assessments for select rezones

The Robertson County Commission approved a proposed amendment to Article 3 of the Robertson County Zoning Resolution that establishes when traffic assessments or full traffic studies must accompany zoning applications. The measure, presented as Resolution 102025083 by Planning and Zoning staff, passed after brief discussion and clarification from county staff and the highway department.

Under the adopted change, a traffic assessment — a lighter, impact-oriented review paid for by a developer — will be required for rezones of five acres or more, for commercial or industrial property and when the planning commission or planning director determines an assessment is needed. A full traffic study will be required for larger developments: any project exceeding 50,000 square feet of floor area, any project expected to generate 150 or more new daily trips, planned unit developments, major subdivisions and instances when the planning commission or director asks for a study.

Hunter, the planning presenter, explained that developers will hire an outside engineer to perform the assessment or study; that engineer will make recommendations to the planning commission and the highway department; Troy in the highway department retains authority to require the access and improvements he deems necessary. Commissioners asked about timing: traffic assessments or studies must be submitted 30 days prior to the planning commission meeting to allow the county’s reviewing engineer time to evaluate the material.

Commissioners also asked whether projects already past planning commission review would be affected; staff said projects already approved by the planning commission would not be retroactively subject to the new rule. The commission voted to adopt the amendment.