Planning Commission sets July hearing for Preston Flats rezoning amid neighborhood traffic concerns

The Louisville Metro Planning Commission on June 20 voted to set a July 25 public hearing for a rezoning request known as Preston Flats, a proposal to change a currently undeveloped parcel from R5 single‑family to R6 multifamily zoning with a detailed district development plan, a rear‑yard setback variance and a buffer waiver.

Staff presented the application and recommended setting the hearing date so the commission could consider the developer’s revised plan, which proposes three buildings containing 28 multifamily units. Dante Saint Germain, Office of Planning staff, said the parcel is partially in a neighborhood form district and partially in a suburban marketplace corridor, and that the project revises a prior hotel proposal denied in 2022.

Neighbors who live on Clay Avenue and business owners adjacent to the site urged the commission to examine access and safety. Carolyn Riddle, who said she has lived at 1136 Clay Avenue for 58 years, told commissioners: “If a kid ran out in the road, there’s no way they could stop.” Dariush Binder, who lives on the corner, said narrow entrances and existing traffic make it hard for residents to exit driveways and worried about impacts to his three children. Steve Porter, representing the property owner of Holy Smokes Barbecue, said neither the Clay Avenue access nor the Preston‑Highway entrance is a safe place to add additional trips, citing poor sightlines at the Subway drive‑through.

The applicant’s representative said the site is covered by reciprocal and defined access easements linking the parcel to adjacent commercial properties and that many commitments from the prior hotel application — including screening and fencing — remain in place. He also said the project team will work with fire marshals and public works on access design and that the applicant can provide additional site photos to demonstrate existing conditions.

Commissioners requested that staff photograph the Subway drive‑through sightline and consider directional signage or other mitigation for circulation regardless of the rezoning outcome. The motion to set the Planning Commission public hearing for 24 Zone 19 on July 25, 2024, passed and staff will ensure prior LD&T participants receive notice of the hearing.

The case will return for a full public hearing and testimony on July 25; staff reports and documents will be part of the official record and the commission’s later deliberation will address traffic analysis, access design and any binding elements or conditions attached to a recommendation to Metro Council.