TRC hears Pine Grove continuation; agencies flag karst, traffic study and water-main needs

The Oldham County Technical Review Committee on Feb. 19 heard a continued review of Pine Grove Subdivision (TRC25-003), during which the applicant and county staff clarified neighborhood notification steps and several technical agency requirements but no formal action was taken.

The continuation, presented by Mike Swansburg on behalf of Triple Springs Partners LLC, was held so the developer could document additional neighbor notice after concerns at the Jan. 15 meeting. "The developer in this case has gone back at the request of both the committee and the concerned parties in this case to make sure that we complied with that," Swansburg said, noting the developer sent updated notifications to adjoining owners.

County senior planner Anna Barge and other agency representatives summarized outstanding technical items the applicant must address before the project advances to the planning commission. Barge asked that plans clearly indicate which features will remain and which will be removed and that the applicant coordinate road naming with the county GIS manager. Health department comments, read into the record, said a preliminary soil evaluation found soils "entirely provisionally suitable for conventional subsurface discharge septic system," noting silty loam to silty clay loam soil types and adequate depths for lateral field installation.

County staff and outside agencies raised several items the applicant must still resolve or provide documentation for: - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC): staff said a traffic-impact study for the development is pending; the county is "awaiting receipt of a traffic impact study for this development to determine whether any highway improvements, i.e., turn lanes, will be necessary." No highway improvements were recommended yet because the study is not submitted. - U.S. Army Corps/Water quality permits: in response to a public question, a county representative confirmed that Section 404 (Army Corps) and Section 401 (state water quality certification) permits would be required if later design work shows impacts to jurisdictional streams. - Louisville Water: the utility reported an existing nearby 8-inch water main in the North Oldham pressure zone (noted in the record as "North Oldham 8 40"). Louisville Water’s comments note that a water-main extension along Kentucky 329 from Constantine Drive to the development entrance "will be required to serve the development" and that main sizing and supply plans must be coordinated with Louisville Water’s engineering distribution/extensions department.

County planning staff also discussed geologic constraints raised at the earlier meeting. A county official reported that Kentucky Geological Survey mapping identifies the area as "an intense karst area" and shows three mapped sinkholes north of the proposed development. The county reminded the applicant that Oldham County Subdivision Regulations require sinkholes observed on site to be shown on the record plat.

School-division comments were provided by a county school representative, who said the project’s estimated 93 housing units would generate about 12 students under the county’s current calculator (0.128 students per unit). The representative said the serving campuses would be Goshen, North Oldham Middle and North Oldham High and reported a final available capacity rating of roughly 80.18 percent; with other approved developments included the campus area capacity rises to about 83.61 percent. The representative noted the county’s phasing policy would allow 35 units per year under the current agreement.

Public comment during the TRC was limited to technical questions. Mark Fackler, a nearby resident, asked whether the Army Corps (404) and state (401) permits would be required; county staff confirmed they would be required only if impacts to jurisdictional waters are found during final design.

Discussion vs. decision: the TRC reiterated that it takes no decisions at this meeting stage; the committee’s role is to identify technical issues and open items for the applicant to address. Staff and agency comments were incorporated into the record for follow-up by the applicant. If the applicant proceeds to a planning-commission hearing, adjoining owners will receive notice by mail and notices will also be posted on the county website and in the local newspaper.

Next steps: the developer said it will incorporate prior TRC comments by reference and supply the outstanding studies and plan revisions (traffic study, water-main coordination, sinkhole mapping and the plan notation changes) before scheduling the planning-commission hearing. No vote or formal action occurred at the TRC meeting.