Boone County approves multiple zoning second readings and limits for large solar farms

The Boone County Fiscal Court on Jan. 21 approved several second-reading ordinances changing land-use designations and amending zoning text across the county.

The court approved a map amendment for Trough Homes Inc. to rezone property from Rural Suburban to Industrial 1, which the county judge executive said could accommodate uses such as a coffee shop, a small brewhouse or a bike shop. Commissioners moved and seconded the motion to adopt the Planning Commission's recommendation, and the court voted 4-0 to finalize the ordinance.

Also on second reading, the court approved the rezoning of a 1.2-acre parcel at Mount Zion Road and Lakeside Drive (Singular Investments/Mount Zion MHCLP) from Noble Home Park to Commercial 4. County staff noted the applicant presented a Wendy's concept during review; commissioners clarified that approving the zoning does not approve specific demolition or tenant changes and that a developer could still pursue alternative uses. That measure passed 4-0.

Separately, the court adopted a narrowly scoped text amendment for the Graves Road commercial overlay to allow residential storage warehouse (self-storage) as a conditional use subject to enhanced design standards and a cap limiting such uses to no more than 10% of the remaining Graves Road commercial area. County Administrator Matthew Webster said the allowance was intended to enable smaller, multi-story storage that resembles office buildings rather than sprawling warehouses; the court approved the amendment 4-0.

The meeting also included a countywide zoning text amendment to address solar energy systems and battery-storage facilities. Judge Gary W. Moore and staff emphasized the changes target large-scale, ground-mounted "solar farm" developments that would consume large acreage while preserving rooftop and smaller ground-mounted systems. "It would be prohibited if it's kind of large enough to be in that solar farm category," County Administrator Matthew Webster said, describing the intent to protect agricultural acreage while allowing appropriately sized systems. Commissioners also noted utilities such as Duke Energy and Owen Electric operate under state and federal authority and are not subject to county regulation in this matter. The solar and battery-storage text amendments passed 4-0.

Finally, the court revised local definitions for electric-vehicle charging stations and gasoline filling stations to conform with a state statutory change (KRS 100.326) that took effect July 15, 2024; the local update aligns Boone County zoning with the state law. That measure passed unanimously.

The court's actions were procedural finalizations of prior Planning Commission recommendations and first readings; members and staff urged applicants to keep the county informed about specific project plans and designs as they proceed through subsequent permitting steps.