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Councilor
Betsy Ruhe
Contact Betsy

Legislative Aide
Ashkan Rezai

Christella Philippe

601 West Jefferson Street
(502) 574-1121

Visit the District 21 Website

Subscribe to this e-Newsletter

District 21 Calendar

Cafe Louie

Feb 1| 9-10am - Iroquois Library

Wilder Park

Feb 4| 6:30-7:30pm -Wilder Park Community Center

Neighborhood Development Meeting

Feb 11| 6pm - Farmdale Baptist Church 1238 Durrett Lane Louisville, KY 40213

Have an event happening in District 21? E-mail a picture and short description to: christella.philippe@louisvilleky.gov to include it in our event calendar

IN THIS ISSUE...

• A Message From Betsy
• Cafe Louie- Iroquois Library
• ATTENTION - Neighborhood Development Notice
• EAF Grant Application Opens
• Join the Hunt for Louisville’s Last Icy Spot
• Lunar New Year Celebration
• Donate Life Kentucky Trust Scholarship Opportunity
• District Resources
• Neighborhood Associations & Groups
• Follow Councilor Ruhe on Social Media

A Message From Betsy

Greetings, District 21 Residents,

Let’s talk about planning and zoning in this community update!

There has been significant attention on the rezoning of property at 6101–6107 Southside Drive, 101–111 Steedly Drive, and 6312 R Kenjoy Drive. Naval Ordnance, which is right next door on Southside, is already zoned EZ-1 (Enterprise Zone) and M-3 (Manufacturing District), is already designated for heavy industrial use. While you may not recognize the addresses, you’ve likely seen the grassy field with tall trees on Southside Drive. One day, the property owner could choose to build a factory there, with little opportunity for the community to prevent it. Heavy industry already exists behind this property, and the rezoning was approved by the Planning Commission (6-1) and the Metro Planning and Zoning Committee (5-3). Last night, the Metro Council passed it, with only six members voting against it, including myself.

What I Did to Advocate for You

Giving the circumstances, stopping the development entirely was unlikely, but I remined committed to advocating for the neighbors in these areas. I collaborated closely with the County Attorney’s Office and my Metro colleague, Councilman Khalil Batshon, to advocate for essential protections. I am grateful to Councilman Batshon for his support and clear communication throughout this project in District 25. Our focus was on limiting the types of industries allowed, ensuring they would not involve toxic chemicals or operations with high risk of explosion. I also fought for binding elements to reduce the impact on nearby homes, including improved landscaping, restricted operating hours, and limits on truck traffic.

While we could not secure every safeguard we wanted, we successfully prohibited certain M-2 and M-3 zoned uses, providing long-term protections for the community. You can view the full list of binding elements here. 

Traffic Concerns and a Potential Solution

With this expansion, semi-truck traffic through our neighborhoods will increase, despite the developer’s efforts to redirect trucks via Strawberry Lane and the rear land of their property. One major issue is that Google Maps does not distinguish between personal vehicles and large trucks, often directing semis through residential streets instead of industrial routes. This growing problem has been raised with our U.S. Representative to push free GPS providers to develop truck-specific routing options.

My colleagues and I have rejected developments in the county that are planned for roads insufficient for the expected traffic. Yet, we approve projects in developed areas that will increase truck traffic through pre-existing neighborhoods. This does not seem fair or equitable, and I will continue to seek ways to reduce or eliminate truck traffic in our communities. I welcome your ideas. Sometimes, the solution consists of many small parts rather than one grand plan.

How You Can Have a Stronger Voice in Future Developments

If you want greater influence over future developments, I encourage you to sign up for email notifications about proposed projects in our community. This allows you to get involved early, when there’s a better chance to shape outcomes—rather than when proposals reach Metro Council, where our options are limited to a simple “yes,” “no,” or “yes, but.” By staying informed, you help my office advocate more effectively by raising concerns at the right time, ensuring they are clearly communicated to developers and my colleagues on the Metro Council.

While I do not oppose economic development, I want to ensure industries bringing jobs to our community also come with proper safeguards for those living nearby. When there is clear, real-time evidence that a development could pose harm, we must be prepared to challenge it. That is why I ask for your early engagement.

Stay Engaged—Your Voice Matters

By signing up for development notices—especially for District 21 and neighboring areas—you will learn about new proposals sooner and have more time to get involved. The earlier you express concerns and provide factual input, the better equipped I will be to advocate on your behalf. Your involvement strengthens our ability to protect community interests while balancing growth and neighborhood well-being. You can sign up for Metro notifications here.

Thank you to everyone who reached out and shared your thoughts on this proposal. I hope February brings us more sunshine and kindness. Stay warm, stay well, and enjoy your weekend.

Cafe Louie- Iroquois Library

ATTENTION - Neighborhood Development Notice

Neighborhood Meeting Notification
January 24, 2025

To:

1st and 2nd Tier Adjoining Property Owners of M&L Automotive Repair, 4719 Preston Highway, City of Louisville, KY 40213 (“Property”), Neighborhood Group Representatives expressing interest in this area and Metro Councilperson of District 21 (Betsy Ruhe)

From:

Bowman. on behalf of applicant

Rezoning from (C-1) to C-2 for Property located at 4719 Preston Highway
(Case Number 24-ZONEPA-0125)

When:

February 11th, 2025, at 6:00 PM

Where: 

Farmdale Baptist Church 1238 Durrett Lane Louisville, KY 40213

A proposal to rezone from C-1 to C-2 to allow the subject site of 4719 Preston Highway to continue to be utilized for auto repair facility.

This item will be considered by the Louisville Metro Planning Commission
In accordance with the procedures of Louisville Metro Office of Planning, we are inviting you to discuss this proposal before the formal application can be filed. This will be an informal meeting to give you the opportunity to review the proposed plan and discuss the proposal. This meeting will be held in addition to the established public meeting procedures of the Planning Commission.

To receive future updates via email and text about Neighborhood Development meetings, click here to subscribe to Metro Government e-news topics .

EAF Grant Application Opens

Beginning Friday, January 31, Louisville Metro Government will begin accepting applications for External Agency Fund (EAF) grants.

If your nonprofit organization is committed to providing services that achieve meaningful outcomes for low-income Louisvillians, you are encouraged to apply. Learn all about the process and view the application guidelines here: tinyurl.com/3ycaymet

Join the Hunt for Louisville’s Last Icy Spot

Treasure Hunt will begin on Friday, January 31, after the rain concludes

Councilor Betsy Ruhe (D-21) and Councilman Ben Reno-Weber (D-8) invite residents to participate in an exciting new adventure to find the last icy spot in Louisville. After today's rain, keep your eyes peeled for lingering patches of ice in our beautiful city.

If you see a patch, snap a photo and share it on either Councilor Ruhe’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetsyRuhe21) or Councilman Reno-Weber’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/@CouncilmanBenRenoWeber) under the “Treasure Hunt” graphic. Make sure you include the location of the patch, for a chance to win a delicious cold treat. Use the hashtag “#LouisvilleIcyHunt” in your posts.

This hunt will continue until all the snow has melted, giving everyone a chance to explore, have fun, and enjoy hidden areas in Louisville.

“Grab a friend, your kids, or explore shaded areas of the city and Metro Parks to find those icy patches,” said Councilor Ruhe. “This is a fun activity with a sweet reward. Stay safe, have fun, and happy hunting!”

For more information, please contact Councilor Ruhe’s office at 574-1121.

Lunar New Year Celebration

Join Americana Community Center on Saturday, February 8, for a special event hosted by Louisville Orchestra Creators Corps composer Oswald Huỳnh, in collaboration with the LO and Crane House.

The Americana Community Center, Inc. will be the venue for an evening filled with live music, lantern-making stations, and delectable dishes from local Asian vendors.

While the event is free, RSVPing is recommend to stay updated and receive important details. You can confirm your attendance by clicking here.

Donate Life Kentucky Trust Scholarship Opportunity

Learn more about the 2025 Scholarship Program by emailing Scholarships@donatelifeky.org or click here to apply for the scholarship program.

District Resources

Here are a list of recourses available for our constituents

LIHEAP:

Enrollment for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Winter Crisis is available through Kentucky's Community Action Network for eligible households until March 31, 2025, or until funds run out. Benefits vary based on housing category, fuel type, and income level and can be used for home heating costs, including electric, natural gas, propane, coal, wood, or fuel oil.

Click here to sign up or learn more

Flight Tracking:

If you have complaints about airport noise, please call Noise Office at 502-363-8516 and follow the below prompts to track flights: 

Go to the airport's website www.flylouisville.com. At the top of the page, click on CORPORATE tab. Under the heading LRAA, click on the tab for NOISE COMPATIBILITY PROGRAM. Near the bottom of the page, look for Flight Tracking and click the button for NEAR-LIVE FLIGHT TRACKS DISPLAY. Click the Flight Tracking heading at the top of the page. Click the Accept button to accept the terms and conditions and you can begin viewing flights.

Pothole Reporting:

Use the Louisville Metro online form by clicking here.
Use Twitter by sending the location of the hole to @LouMetro311 and include the hashtag #502pothole.
Call Metro311 or 574-5000 to report potholes or any other issues.
Call our office at 574-1121, and we'll turn it in on your behalf.

To report a pothole on an interstate in Jefferson County, go to the “contact us” dropdown menu and select “report a hazard” on KYTC’s website http://transportation.ky.gov 

Recycling:

We are asking for your help to ensure that we are correctly setting out our recycling carts in our district. Follow these tips to ensure that your recycling gets picked up time!

Do: Make sure the lid is closed flat and break the boxes down flat to maximize space.

Don't: Set boxes beside the cart or leave lid open or overflow the cart

For the Public Works recycling schedule click here

Neighborhood Associations & Groups

• Beechmont Neighborhood Association: Meets 3rd Monday @ 7:00pm
  Iroquois Library, 601 W Woodlawn
• Iroquois Neighborhood Association: Meets 3rd Tuesday @ 7:00pm
  DeSales High School, 425 W Kenwood Dr
• Preston Park Neighborhood Association: Meets 1st Wednesday @ 6:30pm
  Lynnview City Hall, 1241 Gilmore Ln
• Lynnview City Council: Meets 2nd Tuesday @ 6:00pm
  Lynnview City Hall, 1241 Gilmore Ln
• Wilder Park Neighborhood Association: Meets 1st Tuesday @ 6:30pm
  Wilder Park Community Center, 120 Fairmont Ave
• Friends of Iroquois Park: Meets 4th Monday @ 6:30pm
  Iroquois Library. 601 W Woodlawn
• LRAA Board Meeting: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 @ 3pm
  700 Administration Drive
• Community Noise Forum: Monday, January 23, 2023 @ 6pm
  700 Administration Drive
• Airport Neighbors Alliance: Saturday, February 18, 2023 @ 10am
  Location TBA

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