Florence council denies Country Cabins concept plan, adopts municipal order to overrule planning commission

Florence City Council on June 10 denied a request to amend the concept development plan for a 0.698‑acre property on Burlington Pike and then adopted a municipal order to overrule the Boone County Planning Commission’s recommendation.

Council took up ordinance O‑12‑20‑25, which would have kept an existing concept plan allowing motor vehicle sales/delivery/pickup and would have allowed a cabin/shed retailer and flower shop in phased development. Developer representatives said the site — described in the record as approximately 0.698 acres and constrained by access and elevation — has limited suitable uses. Jacob Bergman of NAI Bergman, speaking for the applicant, said the site’s size and access constraints make many uses infeasible and that Country Cabins would perform site improvements, including removing the front monument sign and repaving the lot. “We hope you’ll agree that anything reasonable is better than vacant,” Bergman said.

During roll call on the ordinance, councilmembers recorded unanimous “No” votes (Ms. Wingo, Ms. Chambers, Mr. Wynne, Ms. Whelan, Mr. Snyder and Ms. Cable), and the chair clarified that the motion did not pass and the ordinance was denied.

After the failed vote, council considered Municipal Order MO‑8‑20‑25 to overrule the Boone County Planning Commission (resolution R25016A) and to adopt findings of fact that would deny the applicant’s request for a concept development plan change. The council voted to adopt the municipal order and the attached findings; roll call recorded six affirmative votes and the mayor announced the motion passed 6‑0.

Council members noted the packet contained both findings for approval and denial prepared for the council’s consideration; the adopted municipal order accepts the denial findings and formally rejects the Planning Commission recommendation. The record shows the developer was present and had previously agreed to a list of planning conditions but that council concluded the site and proposal were not appropriate as presented.

The municipal order’s adoption is a final local action to deny the applicant’s requested change of concept development plan. The council did not adopt an alternative plan or approval; the denial and the municipal order’s findings are available in the city clerk’s office.

What’s next: The transcript indicates the municipal order and findings were adopted at the meeting. The record does not specify whether the applicant will appeal the decision or revise and resubmit; those steps, if any, were not stated in the meeting record.