Franklin County commission denies rezoning request for 0.84-acre parcel on Old Estill/Westwood Springs Road

At a Franklin County Commission meeting (date not specified), commissioners voted 4–12 to deny a request to rezone a 0.84-acre parcel in the First Civil District from agricultural to R-2 general residential. The motion to approve the rezoning was moved by Commissioner McTally and seconded by Commissioner Riddle; a yes vote would have approved the change, and a no vote would reaffirm the decision of the Winchester Planning and Zoning Board.

The rezoning application, filed for Franklin County property map number 45, Parcel 205.11 (location provided in the hearing as Old Westwood Springs Road; the applicant later referred to Old Estill Springs Road), sought county approval to allow a duplex on the site. Applicant Jaslyn Simon described the planned building as “a duplex” and said she intended to live in one unit. She told the commission each side would be two bedrooms and she believed there was one bath per unit.

Neighbors and property owners raised objections at the public hearing. Roger Parks of Winchester said he and others welcome a single-family dwelling but opposed multifamily development and argued the rezoning would set a precedent allowing duplexes, triplexes or quadplexes in the neighborhood. Parks also raised safety and access concerns about additional driveways on Parks Lane, a single-lane county road. Parks told the commission there are deed restrictions tied to the property and listed specific prohibitions he believes remain in effect: “No hog farms, no chicken houses, no single wide trailers, no prefab homes.”

County planning staff and commissioners clarified legal limits and local procedure during the hearing. Staff said the request reached the county as a pass-through from the Winchester Planning and Zoning Board and noted the Winchester board recommended against the rezoning. Staff explained the county’s R-2 classification differs from Winchester’s R-2 in that the county’s zoning allows mobile homes, which the Winchester board does not allow; that discrepancy was cited as a reason Winchester recommended denial. Staff also stated that deed restrictions (private covenants) “follow the deed” but that the county does not enforce deed restrictions, and enforcement would be a civil matter.

Commissioners discussed options, including tabling the item for additional information from Winchester, but proceeded to a vote. The motion to approve the rezoning (moved by Commissioner McTally, seconded by Commissioner Riddle) failed on a 4–12 tally, which left the Winchester Planning and Zoning Board’s denial in place.

The transcript did not specify further follow-up or next steps for the applicant.