Shepherdsville council denies rehearing request, sets April 13 votes on five zoning ordinances

The Shepherdsville City Council voted unanimously to refuse a developer’s request to reopen a recent zoning hearing and confirmed that it will hold second readings and final votes on five ordinance overrides at its April 13 meeting.

John Baker, attorney for the applicants representing Roebling, asked the council to rehear the matter, saying the applicants had identified “factual inaccuracies and also some findings that are not based on the administrative record as it’s constituted currently.” He told the council the two options were to reopen the hearing or to pursue an appeal in Bullitt Circuit Court.

Catherine, the city staff member who summarized the procedural options, said a rehearing would be advertised and could occur within the 90-day window, allowing additional parties to present evidence. Bonnie Lynn Enlows moved to deny the rehearing; the motion was seconded and the council voted in favor of denial.

Catherine then read summaries of five ordinances (026-004 through 026-008) that would override the Bullitt County Joint Planning Commission and leave multiple parcels’ zoning unchanged. The summaries describe proposed map amendments (ranging from about 0.75 acres to 25.565 acres at locations including Oak Press/Highway South, Steven Drive and Old Preston Highway) that the council found conflicted with the city’s comprehensive plan because of inadequate access, infrastructure, buffering and the plan’s intended south-to-north sequencing for industrial development.

The council’s reading indicated that although the county planning commission recommended amending the zoning map to industrial for several parcels, the city’s findings concluded the changes would create “a fragmented industrial pocket” and lacked necessary transitions to adjacent residential areas. Because the council declined to reopen the hearing, the applicants retain the right to challenge the council’s findings in court.

Catherine said the council would hold second readings and votes on the five ordinances on April 13; public notice will be issued so interested residents may participate. The council emphasized the importance of following due process while noting the tight statutory timeline.

The council’s action preserves the council’s stated land-use findings and moves the listed ordinances toward a final city vote on April 13.