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Planning Commission backs removing 811 Walnut Street from Old Town overlay, recommends downtown designation
Summary
The Louisville Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend City Council adopt an ordinance amending Title 17 to remove 811 Walnut Street from the Old Town overlay and include it in downtown Louisville; staff said the change aligns the parcel with downtown design standards and does not materially affect downtown floor-area limits.
The Louisville Planning Commission on March 12 recommended that City Council amend the Louisville Municipal Code to remove 811 Walnut Street from the Old Town overlay and include the parcel within downtown Louisville.
Emily Klein Gibson, Planner II, presented the staff report for Resolution 5, Series 2026, saying the subject property is in Lot 1, Block 3 of the Jefferson Place subdivision, was constructed in the 1950s, and has historically been used commercially. Gibson noted that an October 2025 rezone changed the underlying zoning to the Commercial Community zone district but did not alter overlays. "Staff recommend approval of Resolution Five, Series 2026," she said, explaining the amendment would make the parcel subject to downtown design-handbook standards rather than the Old Town overlay's primarily residential standards.
The staff presentation included maps showing the parcel at the westerly edge of downtown and identified the proposal as adding the lot to the downtown core/transition area while removing it from the Old Town overlay. Gibson told commissioners the change would not have a significant impact on the total maximum floor-area allocations for that portion of downtown.
There was no applicant presentation. During deliberations commissioners asked whether including the parcel would create a precedent for incremental boundary expansion into residential areas. Staff answered that the subject property sits on the commercial boundary and contrasted it with another property that is entirely surrounded by residential zoning.
Commissioner Basket moved to approve the resolution recommending the ordinance; Commissioner Bangs seconded. The roll-call vote was recorded as: Hunt — Yes; Bangs — Yes; Troy — Yes; Brownice — Yes; Basket — Yes; Ricci — Yes. The motion carried.
The recommendation now goes to City Council, which will consider the ordinance amending Title 17. The Planning Commission record notes that staff will present the draft ordinance and map amendments as part of the council packet; no additional evidence was received at the hearing.
Action details: the commission approved Resolution 5, Series 2026, recommending City Council remove 811 Walnut Street from the Old Town overlay and include it in downtown Louisville; the mover was Commissioner Basket and the seconder was Commissioner Bangs. The vote was recorded in roll call with six affirmative votes and no dissenting votes.
Next steps: City Council will receive the Planning Commission recommendation and consider introduction and adoption of an ordinance to effect the map and code changes.
