I'm back from spring break and I feel re-energized. So, what does that look like? Well, I am almost caught up on my email messages, and I have attended the first Council meeting held after the break. The truth is, I was never fully disengaged from District 7 and other community issues, because I did not leave the city to vacation elsewhere. For the past two weeks I've been on staycation and managed to host a tour for residents of District 7 to City Hall and other parts of downtown and west Louisville (See summary and pictures below), participate on a couple of community panel discussions, and attend a couple of neighborhood meetings.
One of the meetings I attended was a zoning change from R-4 to R-5A for a proposed community of approximately 70 townhomes on the current KABA property on Herr Lane. Yes, this is next to the property purchased by Hagan Properties, LLC (presumably slated for construction in 2025 or 2026). These properties are in the home-rule city of Graymoor-Devondale. Although I have no authority over the Mayor and Council members of Graymoor-Devondale or the decisions they make on zoning issues for their city, I attend these meetings to listen to the presentations, hear the questions that are posed by the affected residents, and learn of the plans of the developer. Attending these meetings is one way I keep up with what's going on in District 7.
While on spring break, I received several emails asking (some demanding) me to defeat the zoning change on Herr Lane. I have replied to most of the inquirers and then decided that I should share with everyone how the zoning change process works.
When a zoning change is desired by a developer or other applicant, a Neighborhood Meeting is scheduled for the applicants and surrounding neighbors to discuss and develop an understanding of the proposal prior to a Public Hearing. A neighborhood meeting is not the final place for approval nor is it the place to provide comments to Metro Government. At the conclusion of a neighborhood meeting, the applicant has 90 days to file a formal zoning change application with Planning & Design Services. If the formal application is not filed within 90 days, the applicant will be required to have another neighborhood meeting.
Once the formal application is filed and agency comments are addressed, a Public Hearing will be scheduled to consider the application. This public (hearing) meeting is YOUR (residents of District 7) official opportunity to speak in support or opposition of the proposal. If you received a notice regarding a neighborhood meeting and/or sign a neighborhood meeting sign-in sheet, you will receive a notice of the public meeting.
Metro Council members are prohibited from pre-judging (supporting or opposing) zoning change requests before they are presented for public input and Louisville Metro Government project-eligibility review. The public meetings are for residents to voice their opinions about zoning changes (remember, the first step is the neighborhood meeting where you learn all about a project and can speak directly and candidly to the applicant or developer). These meetings are generally posted in my weekly eNewsletter upon receipt and until the meeting occurs. If you miss the neighborhood meeting and/or the Planning Commission meeting, you miss your opportunity to be on "record" opposing or supporting a proposed development. As your Metro Council representative, my comments and vote must be based solely on the facts of the case as presented in the "record."
The record should include the staff report, any relevant studies (traffic, feasibility, etc.), minutes from the Planning Commission Public Hearing, and comments from interested parties (mainly, YOU). Whether you support or oppose a proposed project, or simply want to pose questions or suggestions, YOUR comments are an important part of the decision-making process. I review the zoning requests in detail and take upon advisement all of YOUR comments before casting my vote on a zoning issue that affects District 7.
Your voice is very important in zoning matters! So, if you are unable to attend a Planning Commission meeting in person, you can submit comments to the case manager assigned to the project. The case manager will add your comments to the record. The case manager's name and contact information can be found on the Public Notices.
You don't have to rely or wait on public notices that are inserted in this eNewsletter. You can (and should) sign up to receive all public notices regarding District 7 directly. If interested, click here to update your eNews subscriber preferences:
Once you access the GovDelivery site to update your preferences, scroll down to Metro Council, then scroll to District 7. Click on .
So you'll know, zoning cases within the jurisdictions of a home-rule city with zoning authority will not be sent to Metro Council for approval. Those cases are approved or denied by the Mayor and City Council of the home-rule city. I do not have a vote on the City Council of a home-rule city. The cities in District 7 with zoning authority are: St. Matthews, Graymoor-Devondale, and Lyndon.
If you are interested in more information about Planning and Design Services, call the office at (502) 574-6230, or click here to access the comprehensive website: Planning & Design | LouisvilleKY.gov. On this site, you can view meeting agendas, search case information, read the Land Development Plan, review the 2040 design plan, view the standard design guidelines.
Click here for more information about Public Notices and Neighborhood Meetings.
On Saturday, April 4th, a group of District 7 constituents participated in my tour of downtown and west Louisville. Included in the tour were stops at:
City Hall (with visits to Council Chambers and my office!)
Roots 101: African American History Museum
Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center
Republic Bank Foundation YMCA
St. Stephen Baptist Church and the Family Life Center
Here are some of the testimonies from constituents who participated in the tour:
I wanted to thank you for hosting the West End Tour this past Saturday, my wife and I enjoyed it very much. --Tom
Thank you for allowing me to join your bus tour of the West End! I learned so much that is new in the area. You did an excellent job organizing, planning, and arranging for each of our 5 stops. Everything went off smoothly without a hitch. This takes dedication to detail. Again, thank you! --Catharine
Councilwoman McCraney, Thank you for the amazing opportunity to discover portions of central and western Louisville that I had not experienced. Your tour was a great educational event and I appreciate the chance to visit and tour facilities that otherwise would not have been open to me in the manner you provided. Please thank Councilman James for his insightful tour of City Hall - even exploring deep into the historical coal bins. It was an honor to meet and hear from the Reverent Doctor Cosby and the provided lunch was beyond delicious. I look forward to similar events. Thanks for your service and all you do. Blessings. –Stephen
Yesterday was amazing! Thanks again for organizing it. --Gary
Paula, thank you for the very interesting bus tour (4/2/22). It was so informative and inspiring. Opportunities like this excursion are rare, and I appreciate the chance to experience this community from different perspectives. The tour was well planned...and the choices of venues were very appropriate. I was impressed that you could get the top spokespersons for each of the stops. You were so generous with the muffins, water, and the delicious luncheon at St. Stephen's Family Center. For sure, we will try to participate in future excursions that help us understand our communities better. I appreciate your dedication and your service as our councilwoman. –John
From my friend Catharine, who attended the bus trip today, I heard glowing information about where you went, whom you visited, what was learned, plus a very generous and delicious lunch at St. Stephen's. And best of all, Councilwoman McCraney, your decisions of where to visit, what to tell, and just being so welcoming and gracious. Sure am sorry I couldn't join you all. --Judy
Dear Paula, Thank you so much for our incredibly informative "West of 9th Street" tour on Saturday. Carl and I were amazed at how much we learned. We are both natives of Louisville. Our group was small, but I believe it was just the spark for all of us to learn more about other neighborhoods in this wonderful city we call home. Your selections of the sites we visited gave us reasons for hope. Please convey our gratitude to those who were kind enough to feed, entertain and teach us on this tour. You work so hard, we want you to know how much we appreciate your investment of time, energy and talent. The details of organizing a tour like this are astronomical. Your attention to detail is superb. We noticed what you did for us. Community involvement and education are partial cures for many of the issues we face in Louisville. We value your initiative in producing this tour and helping us be more educated.
We look forward to future adventures with you. --Marilyn
Lunch was served at Mattie's Kitchen at the St. Stephen Family Life Center on 15th and Kentucky Streets. Rev. Dr. Cosby,* pictured with District 7 tour participants, stopped by to extend greetings and wise words. The food was finger-licking good and the cameo appearance by Dr. Cosby was inspiring.
*Pastor of St. Stephen Church and President of Simmons College of Kentucky
The newest member of the District 7 team is Susan Rhodes. Susan comes to our office after retirement from the University of Louisville where she spent 40 years in various executive assistant roles.
She has been actively involved in governance, having served on the Metro Ethics Committee, the UofL Board of Trustees and Athletic Association. In addition, she served as Chairwoman of the Staff Senate at UofL.
Susan is a widow, the mother of two adult children, grandmother of four and great-grandmother of two.
The following pieces of legislation passed Council this week:
An ordinance amending Ordinance No. 088 relating to FY 2021-2022 capital budget for Metro Government. The ordinance reallocates $400,000 of facilities and fleet management land acquisition funding to a new project titled SW Veteran's Transitional Housing Project under Develop Louisville..
An ordinance relating to the zoning of District 7 properties located at 917 & 919 Fountain Avenue and 4700 Westport Road. Re-zoned to allow for a proposed 6300 Sq. ft. office building.
A resolution asking the governor and the general assembly to request the United States Environmental Protection Agency to issue an emergency fuel waiver of the reformulated gas requirements during the current ban oil imports from Russia.
Metro Council also recognized the University of Louisville Cheer Teams for winning the 2022 National Cheer Association Championship and the UofL Women's Basketball team for their achievement in the 2022 NCAA Basketball Tournament.
These notices are sent out weekly by the VA. If you would like to directly receive these notices, email LOUVAMCconstruction@usace.army.mil saying, "I would like to subscribe for weekly updates." You can also email this same address with general construction questions.
Click here to access the presentation from the VA Forum in December.
Evolve502 Scholarships
Evolve502 has a goal of funding a two-year tuition-free opportunity for every JCPS graduate through the class of 2034. To date, 37 students who are residents of District 7 and students at Ballard High School, have applied. Three months remain until the July 15 application deadline. This application rate more than doubles the 14 students from District 7 who applied last year.
Please share this information with neighbors and friends who might have interest in applying.
For more information regarding Evolve 502 click here.
Residents of Graymoor-Devondale who are interested in seeking election as Mayor or one of six City Council positions should note the filing deadline is June 7. The Mayor will serve a six year term and the City Council members commit to serve a two year term.
for more information on candidate requirements, filing fees and forms please click here.
Westport Village Events
Ready to enjoy the Ulti-Mutt day out at Westport Village for you and your furry friend?? Puppy Palooza is {free} to the public, including a Fido Marketplace with over 20 dog-friendly vendors, a k9 splash zone sponsored by The Pet Station Country Club, live music with Cull Hollow, doggy activities, and much more!
Westport Village is partnering with the non-profit organization, Kentucky Humane Society! They provide adoption services, medical care and resources for our furry friends in need.
This event is located in and around the green space near Tunie's and Bend and Zen Hot Yoga.
*Please remember to wear a facial covering for this event and remain socially-distanced. Hand sanitizer stations will be located throughout the property*
Derby Cookies and Cocktails
Learn the art of cookie decorating in this Derby-inspired workshop on April 27th from 6:30pm-8:00pm, located at Westport Whiskey & Wine!
Nicki Rosati, local cookier & owner of The Louisville Cookie Company, will teach you the techniques, tips & tricks of decorating iced sugar cookies. With her guidance, you’ll decorate 4 Derby-inspired cookies with swoon-worthy icing.
This class will include beginner decorating techniques, fail proof tips for icing consistency, and step-by-step designs for 4 Derby-inspired sugar cookies. You’ll leave with 4 fully decorated iced sugar cookies and all the skills to ice & decorate cookies like the experts!
Plus, a ticket includes on mint julep to enjoy during the workshop provided by Westport Whiskey & Wine. Additional drinks can also be purchased.
All month long in April you can make a difference in our community through Give a Day, the Mayor' Celebration of Service! This program partners with Metro United Way who works every day to lift our community by mobilizing people and maximizing our community’s resources to advance equity and share opportunities for all.
Check out all the opportunities to volunteer and register for service here! Some volunteer opportunities include giving fresh paint to community buildings, clean-up and landscaping of our shared outdoor spaces, clothing drives for children and babies, food deliveries to those in need, and so much more.
Any act of service helps! If you are unable to register for a physical act of service but would still love to contribute, donations to the Mayor's Give a Day are accepted here. Your donation will help to keep Give a Day going and provide supplies needed to help the community!
At the Library
Northeast Regional Library
On Thursday, April 21, the Northeast Library will have offe a class in vinyl and paper cutting using the Silhouette Cameo electronic cutting machine and the Silhouette Studio design software. Participants will create a custom vinyl sticker. Basic computer skills are necessary for this class. Registration required: email Courtney.Hatley@lfpl.org or call 502-394-0379 to sign up. Ages 13 and up.
On Thursday, April 23, Join our friends from WAGS Pet Therapy to watch The Incredible Journey. Wear your pajamas and bring your blankets to snuggle up with a dog and a movie. Enjoy activities and a cereal bar! Rated G, running time 1 hr. & 20 min. Families welcome!
The Jefferson County Conservation District will be hosting the 4th Annual Garden Swap on Saturday, April 23 at Wyandotte Park from 9am- Noon. This event is free to all community members and is a great way to help proficient as well as novice gardeners alike to share resources. You don't have to bring anything to take anything. Gardening should be equitable for all!
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month Events
This virtual panel discussion will be held on Wednesday, April 20 at 7pm via Facebook and Webex. To register contact Gretchen.hunt@louisvilleky.gov
Metro Louisville now has an interactive map that will allow you to see what is happening in your neighborhood as well as others across the city. The map updates daily and if you choose you can receive alerts for your area by subscribing using the red receive alerts button on the page. Click here to try it out: Interactive Map to Track Crime.
Message from the LMPD 8th Division
. Please make note of the below tips to help make sure theft doesn't happen to you.
Never leave anything of value in your vehicle; this includes laptops, purses, GPS devices and even loose change.
Do not leave your vehicle running while unattended.
Always lock your vehicle doors.
Remove garage door openers from vehicles when parked outside.
Do not leave your keys in your vehicle, this includes key-fobs.
Do not leave the windows of your vehicle open, or partially open.
Try to park your vehicle in a well-lit area.
Never leave a firearm unprotected in your vehicle.
Immediately report any suspicious person, or vehicle to (502) 574-7111.
Louisville Metro Council livestreams all of its regular meetings and committee meetings on Facebook Live.
To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here.
The public can also view all council and committee meetings on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99. Proceedings are live streamed from the Metro Council Clerk’s Archived Media page here.
If you would like to see the agenda for any of the Metro Council’s Committee meetings click here.
*District 7 Disclaimer:By taking part in District 7 events, you grant Councilwoman Paula McCraney full rights to use the images resulting from photograph/video filming. Councilwoman McCraney will have the right to any reproductions or adaptations of the images for inclusion in her e-Newsletter or other Council publications. This might include, but is not limited to, the right to use them in printed and online materials, social media and news releases.
