Daviess County fiscal court adopts one-year moratorium on some group housing, asks OMPC to review zoning

The Daviess County Fiscal Court on an October 2025 voice vote approved a one-year moratorium on certain categories of group housing and related facilities and asked the Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission (OMPC) to review the county zoning ordinance.

The court said the pause will allow staff and OMPC to collect data and determine whether zoning changes are needed in response to public concern over the location and operation of some group housing facilities. County counsel read the ordinance’s whereas clauses aloud before the court voted to adopt the measure.

County counsel read the ordinance text, saying the court had “received public input expressing concern over the location of certain categories of group housing and other facilities” and that the court desires “to obtain data related to these types of group housing and facilities to determine the accuracy of public input.” The ordinance states the moratorium will last one year.

Judge Kaslan noted the proposed moratorium mirrors an ordinance the City of Owensboro passed weeks earlier and said the county would coordinate with OMPC on any changes. Commissioner Conder said the moratorium is aimed primarily at agencies “that are not necessarily performing the way that they should be,” praising agencies that do succeed but stressing the need to address failures and neighborhood impacts.

Commissioner Conder quoted a passage he said was sent by Lauren Morrison of a local provider, True North: “We witnessed people move from hopelessness to independence, which looks like individuals working, paying taxes, parenting their children, volunteering, and contributing to the betterment of the community.” Conder said that success exists but that the court also must address instances where programs are failing.

The motion to approve was made and seconded; the transcript records a voice vote with members answering “aye.” No opposing votes were recorded in the public minutes.

The measure directs OMPC to review the zoning ordinance and report back to the fiscal court; the ordinance text specifies a one-year moratorium while the review proceeds. The court did not specify further implementing rules or identify particular providers by name in the ordinance text.

Court members did not open the moratorium item to extended public comment at the meeting, and no formal amendment to the moratorium was recorded.