Franklin County approves rezoning for planned industrial site and conditionally appropriates $500,000 toward land purchase

Franklin County Fiscal Court on Aug. 27 approved a second‑reading ordinance to rezone three tracts along US‑127 and Keaton Lane from rural residential to planned commercial/industrial, and conditionally appropriated county funds to join a multi‑jurisdictional match for a Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) grant.

The zoning change, presented by planning staff as a second reading, covers 47 acres at 5700–5930 US‑127 South, 70 acres at 6238 US‑127 South, and about 57.696 acres at 2024 Keaton Lane. County Attorney read KRS 100.213 aloud to remind the court that map amendments must be consistent with the comprehensive plan or meet statutory findings (inappropriateness of the existing zone or major changes in area character).

Opponents on the court argued the parcels currently lack the utilities and road networks required for industrial use and warned that the county has limited assurances about how subsequent infrastructure work will be handled or funded. Squire Sebastian and others described unanswered questions about three‑phase electric capacity, sewer extensions, stormwater and site preparation costs, and the risk that land could be purchased yet remain undeveloped for years.

Supporters, including Squire Blackburn and other members who voted in favor, said the rezoning aligns with economic development goals and planning recommendations and is needed to pursue business recruitment and jobs that could retain young families in the county.

Economic development director Penny Peebler told the court the KPDI grant timetable requires closing in September and that appropriated funds must be in the bank by Sept. 12 for the planned closing; that timeline shaped the court’s decision to proceed.

The court also approved a resolution authorizing the conditional appropriation of county funds to the Franklin‑Anderson Industrial Development Authority to provide the county’s share of the local match. The KPDI award is described as $4 million for the region; interlocal matching commitments bring the total local/regional match to $8 million across participating jurisdictions, with Franklin County’s immediate ask at $500,000.

Judge and multiple council members agreed to schedule a follow‑up special or regular meeting to work with the development authority on contingencies and public input, though members continued to express differing views about whether additional written guarantees should be placed into the appropriation documents.

The court’s recorded vote approved the ordinance and the appropriation resolution.