Planning Commission continues Rabbit Hole EZ-1 rezoning after residents cite noise, landmark concerns

The Louisville Metro Planning Commission on the Planning Commission agenda day heard hours of public testimony and testimony from the applicant before voting to continue a requested change from C-2 to EZ-1 zoning for the Rabbit Hole Distillery campus. Commissioners said they wanted time to review a recently filed landmark petition and refined binding-element language before making a recommendation to Metro Council.

The proposal, presented by attorney John Baker and Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zumanian, would expand the distillery campus to encompass the entire block bounded by South Clay, South Shelby and East Jefferson streets. The applicant said the key operational change would be to move truck loading off East Jefferson into an on-site covered truck corral and to add hospitality, retail and office functions to the campus; the company repeatedly said it was not increasing distillation capacity.

Why it mattered: neighbors told the commission the expansion would shift heavy, noisy and vibratory activity nearer to residences and risk demolition of contributing historic buildings. Several residents and Liberty Green representatives said ongoing vibration, industrial sounds and early-morning truck arrivals have harmed quality of life for people living directly across the street.

What the applicant proposed: Rabbit Hole’s team described multiple mitigation measures that they said would reduce current impacts. Those included a minimum 10-foot concrete acoustic wall around the truck corral, an acoustical enclosure for the grain-extraction equipment, removal or relocation of exterior exhaust fans that residents identified as a noise source, and a commitment that overhead utilities would be relocated underground within an agreed timeline. John Baker said the company is willing to accept binding hours for truck access (applicant offered 8 a.m.–8 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. weekends as a compromise during deliberations) and asked the commission to make several noise-mitigation measures conditions of development approval.

Residents’ concerns: Shannon Floyd, a Liberty Green resident, described the ‘‘jarring sound’’ of operations and urged the commission to require strict hours and enforceable remedies. Other neighbors described window-rattling vibration and discoloration on a building façade they associated with truck and loading activity. Opponents also urged the commission to pause any action while the newly submitted landmark petition for two buildings on the block is validated by staff; that petition could affect the applicant’s proposed demolitions and therefore the development plan.

Commission response and next steps: Commissioners pressed both sides for technical detail — decibel baselines, the specific STC (sound transmission class) expectations for the proposed wall, and operational protocols for truck routing and contractor enforcement. Staff recommended the commission could adopt a recommendation but noted that if the landmark petition is validated it would have practical implications for the development plan and implementation. The commission voted to continue the item to the 08/01/2024 Planning Commission meeting to allow staff to verify the landmark petition and to refine binding-element language. If the planning commission later issues a recommendation, Metro Council will receive the record and any letters or petitions submitted.

A representative for the applicant said they intend to work with staff and neighbors to refine binding language and provide an acoustical study or performance testing at construction completion, and that several of the mitigation measures (concrete wall, enclosure, removal of certain fans, undergrounding utilities) will be delivered as part of the redevelopment plan.