Barren fiscal court forms committee to draft countywide zoning regulations

The Barren County Fiscal Court in Kentucky has taken a significant step towards establishing countywide land use and zoning regulations, approving a motion on July 21 to initiate the drafting process. Magistrate Marty Kinslow introduced the motion, which passed unanimously, directing the Joint City-County Planning Commission to develop regulations for the unincorporated areas of the county.

Kevin Myatt, the planning and zoning director, confirmed that the planning commission authorized the hiring of Reese True from Kentucky Steward LLC to assist in drafting these regulations. Myatt highlighted True's expertise, noting True's involvement in drafting House Bill 937, a state-level legislation that sought to set minimum statewide requirements for siting high-intensity technological infrastructure projects, including data centers, while preserving local control. Myatt emphasized that the new county regulations would similarly address data centers, solar farms, and alternative energy uses.

The process will involve incorporating feedback from ongoing town hall meetings into the draft. The planning commission is slated to hold a public meeting in August to review the drafted language, with official public hearings planned for September and October. Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd clarified that the recent vote only commenced the drafting process, not an approval of the regulations themselves. The fiscal court is expected to consider a vote on the first reading of a zoning ordinance in October or November.

Judge Byrd also appointed two magistrates and three planning commission members—Thomas Grubbs, Bobby Bunnell, and Ricky Houchens—to a language drafting committee. Myatt underscored that the zoning ordinance would be a dynamic document, subject to continuous updates and amendments to ensure fair and equal application across a multitude of land uses, while also respecting Kentucky's Right-to-Farm Act.