On June 7th before the Kenton County Planning Commission, two of three proposed zoning districts received positive recommendations from Commission members. Those proposed districts have now been sent back to Independence City Council for final action, bringing the nearly two-year process close to completion.
A steering committee of citizens was appointed in late 2009 by Independence City Council to implement recommendations of the Independence Community Small Area Study. These recommendations were adopted by the city council and the Kenton County Planning Commission in 2007. The planning commission’s action incorporated the study’s contents into the Kenton County comprehensive plan.
The appointed steering committee met close to monthly for a year and a half to review current zoning requirements, small area study recommendations, and zoning alternatives. The members’ geographic focus was for areas around downtown Independence, McCullum Pike, and the intersection of McCullum Pike with new KY 17.
The steering committee presented its recommendations to the Independence City Council over the first few months of 2012, one district at a time. Those recommendations included the following three new zoning districts:
• DI/Downtown Independence Zone
• CD-SF/Conservation Development Single-Family Overlay Zone
• GMU/Gateway Mixed Use Zone
The public hearing, which included the presentation of both maps and text for the Downtown Independence Zone and the Conservation Development Single-Family Overlay Zone, was well attended by Independence residents and business owners. Much of the testimony, however, was in opposition to the proposed zoning updates.
Many of the residents claimed that the regulations should remain as they currently are; some even stating, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Many also said they did not feel like they had had adequate input during the process.
The Gateway Mixed Use Zone is expected to be discussed in further detail by the Independence City Council before sending it to the KCPC in the near future.
“Our committee worked diligently to reach consensus on these recommendations. Our process was open and included two public forum opportunities for community input. The public input definitely influenced our final recommendations and I think helped create a better end product,” said Rodney Crice, a citizen member of the steering committee. A detailed report of changes made by the committee based on public input can be found at the NKAPC website.
Crice concludes that he is pleased with the final recommendations. “If council approves the new zoning codes, we will have achieved a primary goal for implementing and realizing the small area study recommendations.”