Shelbyville council delays decision on 5.17-acre rezoning after traffic and service concerns

The Shelbyville City Council on Aug. 8 voted to defer consideration of a rezoning request for roughly 5.17 acres owned by DCC Strategic Realty Partners to its September meeting rather than return the matter to the planning commission.

Councilors debated whether to send the request back to the planning commission or defer it for further information. The item had received an unfavorable planning commission recommendation (reported as 5–3). Members said the intersection at Barksdale, Whitbourne and Blue Ribbon Parkway is “messy,” raising traffic-safety and utility relocation questions that must be resolved before approving higher-density residential zoning.

Planning/engineering staff told the council Shelbyville Power is working with the developer to remove a utility pole and reconfigure the intersection, and staff said emergency services have indicated they can provide service to the area. The developer’s representative said previous discussions with utility and city staff had addressed those concerns and that the project would incorporate required improvements.

Council members repeatedly requested clearer commitments on intersection improvements, utility relocations and whether police and fire signoffs would be in place. Planning staff noted design standards and mitigation tools exist to reduce impacts of higher-density development next to single-family neighborhoods.

After discussion, a motion to defer — specifically to place the item on the Sept. agenda for a first reading rather than remanding it back to the planning commission — carried. The council directed staff and the developer to provide updated information before the September meeting so councilors can evaluate traffic, utilities and emergency-service impacts.

The item will appear on the council’s September agenda for a first reading. No final rezoning vote was taken on Aug. 8.