Developers seek waivers for revised Newcomb Oil site at 4703 LaGrange Road

A revised development plan for a 5 Star/Newcomb Oil convenience store and fuel center at 4703 LaGrange Road drew technical questions from county staff, the county engineer and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet during Oldham County’s Technical Review Committee meeting on May 20, 2026.

The plan, presented by Cliff Ashburn of Dinsmore and Shoal, would keep the property’s existing C‑2 zoning but proposes a different site layout. Ashburn said the proposal requires a waiver for impervious surface percentage and a lighting waiver "to exceed the average 8 foot candles" because combined canopy and store lighting would push the site average above the county standard.

County planning staff identified several items the applicant must correct or add before planning commission submittal. Ryan Fisher, director of Oldham County Planning and Development, asked the applicant to add the current property owner’s name and address to the plans, include a sketch map showing project location, document whether slopes greater than 30% exist, correct adjoining‑owner information, and provide a landscaping and lighting plan for staff approval before building permits. Staff also requested updated parking calculations; using county formulas staff said the minimum required parking should be 26 spaces and the maximum 35.

State transportation comments read into the record by staff emphasized access and drainage requirements. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) noted that additional right‑of‑way along the frontage may be required and that access to Kentucky 146 should be limited to a protected write‑in/write‑out with a median barrier; KYTC also said alterations to drainage affecting state right‑of‑way must be accompanied by a complete drainage/hydrologic analysis addressing 25‑ and 100‑year storms.

County Engineer Jim Silliman flagged issues affecting detention basins and stormwater. He said the disturbance exceeds one acre and therefore requires a state stormwater quality/erosion control permit and Division of Water review. Silliman told the applicant the plans show a dumpster pad and parking encroaching into existing basins and asked the team to either relocate or demonstrate, with calculations, that detention capacity and water quality requirements are met. He also raised concern about fuel storage tanks shown under shallow detention area and asked the applicant to explore alternative tank locations.

Brad Miles, representing the applicant, confirmed the developer plans to remove an existing roadside sign and said the proposed replacement "will not be in the basin." Will Hagen of Hagen Engineering said preliminary emails with KYTC staff indicate KYTC will request a traffic impact study for the write‑in/write‑out access shown and that he will include the state correspondence in the submission package.

There was no formal action taken. Fisher reminded applicants that comments at TRC do not guarantee placement on next month’s Planning Commission agenda — staffing changes may delay scheduling — and said staff will provide agency comment letters and adjoining‑owner correspondence to the applicant. The applicant will return to the Planning Commission process after addressing the items noted by staff, county engineering and KYTC.