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A recap of last night's Metro Council meeting is below. You can access the full agenda for more details here.
ARP Funding - An ordinance was passed amending the 2nd and 3rd rounds of American Rescue Plan funding, primarily to address the issues of homelessness and public safety.
Sexual Harassment Reporting - The Council passed an ordinance requiring organizations doing business with metro government to report instances of workplace sexual harassment. The legislation also prohibits those organizations from entering into non-disclosure agreements contrary to the public interest.
Land Use - The Council approved zoning changes for two properties near the intersection of Hurstbourne Parkway and Bardstown Road in District 26.
LMPD Chief Gwinn-Villaroel spoke at our coffee meeting last month.
My next "Coffee with your Councilman" will be Friday, March 17 from 9-10 a.m. at the Middletown Library, 12556 Shelbyville Road. Natalie Harris, Executive Director of The Coalition for the Homeless, will be our featured guest. One of the things Natalie will discuss is A New Path Home, the Coalition's recommended path for ending homelessness. I think you'll find the conversation insightful and hope to see you on the 17th.
WHEN: Friday, March 17 from 9-10 a.m.
WHERE: Middletown Library, 12556 Shelbyville Road
As a reminder, these meetings are on the informal side, so don't worry if you have to show up a little late or leave a bit early. Just come grab a cup of coffee, meet some of your neighbors, and learn what's going on in metro government.
A right turn lane on eastbound Westport Road near Chamberlain Lane was one of six short-term improvements recommended in the Westport Road Corridor Study.
Work is scheduled to begin March 20 on a project that addresses two of the improvements recommended in the Westport Road Corridor Study approved in 2020. One of these involves the construction of a right turn lane from eastbound Westport Road to southbound Chamberlain Lane. The traffic modeling completed as part of the study showed (and subsequent field observations confirmed) that this turn movement during the PM peak-hour could lead to a queue of close to 800 feet, extending to the I-265 southbound exit ramp and disrupting traffic flow. Traffic analysis showed the addition of a right turn lane could reduce the 95th percentile queue by around 340 feet, reducing the average delay by approximately 24 seconds during the PM peak-hour.
The other recommendation being addressed through this project involves a "ramp cheat" where drivers on eastbound Westport Road cross both off-ramps to access southbound Chamberlain Lane, bypassing the signalized intersection. The contractor will grade a more defined swale in the area to deter drivers from making this potentially dangerous movement.
The March 20 start date is subject to change due to weather or operational factors. Once work begins, the project should take about three weeks to complete.
Each week, Metro Planning and Design Services (PDS) creates a report listing all new land use applications in Jefferson County. These applications can include requests for changes in zoning, waivers, landscape plans, conditional use permits, and more. There is one request involving property in District 17, a conditional use permit for truck parking/storage on 32.41 acres in the R-4 zoning district along North Winchester Acres Road. However, PDS believes a conditional use permit is not the appropriate request for the proposed use and does not plan to process the request as filed. A rezoning pre-application would need to be submitted for what's currently proposed, so this could show up again at a future date.
The report also lists a request for a change in zoning at 13010 Factory Lane for the construction of two hotels and a 70-unit apartment development. While not in our district, this property is located just on the other side of I-265 from our district. Please contact the case manager listed in the report with questions or comments regarding either case.
The Land Development Code Reform process began almost three years ago with the Metro Council's passage of Resolution 082, Series 2020. The first round of amendments addressed issues like accessory dwelling units, notification requirements for developments, and barriers to urban agriculture. Public participation has been an integral part of this process. Metro Planning and Design Services hosted 12 public conversations last year to give residents a chance to talk about their neighborhoods, ongoing development, and ask questions about LDC Reform. A summary of those meetings can be found here.
The second round of conversations will begin later this month, with the first one held March 14th at the Southwest Regional Library. The closest meeting for District 17 residents will be Tuesday, April 25 at the Northeast Regional Library. Click here to learn more about recommended reforms.
North English Station Road from Aiken Road to Old Henry Road will be shut down on Saturday, March 11 for the contractor to complete a full-depth replacement of the roadway. This section will be shut down again for portions of Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18 for milling and paving of the road. Message boards will be installed this coming Monday notifying people of the pending closures. Thank you for your patience as this work is completed.
The penultimate Café LOUIE will be held Saturday, March 11 at 9 a.m. at the Northeast Regional Library, 15 Bellevoir Circle. As a reminder, these informal gatherings at libraries across the city are great opportunities for residents to meet elected officials and discuss important issues with them. Currently, those listed below are scheduled to join me next Saturday:
- State Representative Jason Nemes (33rd District)
- Metro Councilman Stuart Benson (District 20)
- Metro Councilwoman Paula McCraney (District 7)
- Metro Councilwoman Marilyn Parker (District 18)
- Metro Councilman Scott Reed (District 16)
For more information on this event, click here.
Earlier this week, Mayor Greenberg announced that March 1-7 would be Severe Weather Awareness Week. Little did we know that message would be so relevant so soon. Below are some things you can do to be prepared during severe weather:
- Have a plan regarding shelter, evacuation (if necessary), and communicating with your family.
- Build an emergency kit.
- Download the LG&E/KU app to quickly notify them of outages and stay current on repairs and other information.
- Keep track of warnings and active alerts through sources like the National Weather Service.
- Sign up for LENSAlert and Smart911 to receive emergency notifications and create a profile of yourself to aid first responders, respectively.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is promoting its Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program to help restaurants address critical needs amid ongoing economic challenges. They are looking for a small or independently-owned restaurant located in a historic or older building or neighborhood that:
- Contributes to the history and/or identity of its surrounding community or neighborhood
- Tells an inclusive story about cuisine and community in America (such as historic or ethnic food ways or culinary heritage)
- Has a compelling and inspiring historical narrative or cultural significance
- Has been disproportionately impacted by economic challenges, disasters, or other hardships
Use the link above to nominate a restaurant you think fits the parameters of the program. The Irish Rover on Frankfort Avenue won funds last year, so we've seen some local success with tis program. The deadline to nominate is March 12.
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