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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-14-2025April 14, 2025 5:30 p.m. Paducah City Hall Commission Chambers Attendees: Joe Benberry, Trey Griffin, Allan Rhodes, Chairman Bob Wade Absent: Micky Carman, Gayle Kaler, Vice-Chair David Morrison Staff: Carol Gault, Planning Director; Joshua P. Sommer, Planner III; Palmer Stroup, Planner II; Morgan Dennis, Planner I; Glenn Denton, Legal Counsel Guests: Jason Goins Chairman Wade called the regular meeting of the Paducah Planning Commission/ URCDA to order at 5:30 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The roll was taken. Chairman Wade introduced Mr. Glenn Denton, the new counsel for the Planning Commission. Commissioner Benberry offered: I move that the reading of the minutes for March 3, 2025 be waived and that the minutes of said meeting, as prepared by staff, be approved as written. Commissioner Rhodes seconded. No corrections were requested. Chairman Wade called for the vote. 4 Ayes (Benberry, Griffin, Rhodes, Wade), 0 Nays URCDA New Petitions Planning Commission Continued Petitions Planning Commission New Petitions Case # PLT2025-0001 5345 & 5435 US Highway 60 Revised final plat. Mr. Sommer presented the staff report. He stated the purpose of the revision was to enlarge the existing lots and combine lots 5 & 6. New ingress and egresses easements were still in place. A new ingress/ egress easement would be needed to Harris Road to serve Tract 2. After the easement is recorded, the Chairman Wade’s signature would be obtained. Commissioner Griffin offered: I move that this Commission adopt a resolution approving the revised final subdivision of property located at 5345 & 5435 US Highway 60 West. Commissioner Rhodes seconded. Mr. Goins had no other comments to add. Commissioner Benberry asked if lots 2, 3 and 4 were vacant at this time. Mr. Sommer stated that was correct. No further questions were asked. Chairman Wade called for the vote. 4 Ayes (Benberry, Griffin, Rhodes, Wade), 0 Nays Other Business Southside Redevelopment Plan – Discussion Planner II Palmer Stroup addressed the Commission and gave a presentation on the Southside Housing Plan. Mr. Stroup gave insight on how much larger the Southside is than the previous Lowertown and Fountain Avenue neighborhoods. Investment totals were discussed. One new home has been fully completed. Six are under contract for new construction and rehabilitation. Established projects were discussed. The first major recommendation of the Plan is to expand the existing border to South 3rd Street. It would contain 1,061 parcels. 405 of the properties are vacant. Another Phase to the south was then discussed. It consists of eight neighborhoods. Gap funding was then discussed. Materials regarding the Southside would be sent to the residents. Elements such as neighborhood signage, incentives and buy-backs were mentioned. A nomination to the National Register of Historic District was mentioned as a possibility. A specific role for the URCDA was discussed. It was discussing reconstituting the URCDA due to the upcoming workload for the Southside. Chairman Wade asked how many of the 405 vacant lots were in City possession. Mr. Stroup stated in the original phase, only three were left. Planning Director Carol Gault stated we control less than 1/3. Efforts are underway to gain more property. Commissioner Benberry asked if three was correct that the City still controls. Mrs. Gault stated that was correct and that the original number was about 30. Chairman Wade stated his recollection when the Southside was proposed about eight years ago was that there wasn’t much the City could offer, except for possibly infrastructure. Mrs. Gault stated in the last fiscal year, approximately $400,000 was spent on infrastructure on the southside. Chairman Wade asked if code enforcement or crime could be addressed to help the neighborhood. Mrs. Gault stated a neighborhood watch was being established. The police department could also have a greater presence. Code Enforcement officers have also been doing community education. A program called Project Hope was discussed. Commissioner Rhodes discussed a proposal to re-obtain vacant properties while helping property owners to fix-up their homes. Mrs. Gault stated there are ways the Planning Department can work through that. Commissioner Benberry asked about density. Mrs. Gault stated the Board of Commissioners is looking for density due to the housing crisis. Mr. Stroup stated new house plans would work for smaller lots on the Southside. Commissioner Benberry further commented that neighborhood necessities aren’t within the neighborhood. Mr. Sommer stated that a planning trend nationwide is the return of corner stores. He hopes that a text amendment to introduce corner stores back into the neighborhood could be done soon. The idea behind it is to make everyday goods accessible to the neighborhoods again. Commissioner Benberry asked about re-constituting the URCDA and what that would look like. Honorable Counsel Glenn Denton stated the reason why is because the work load will be substantial for the URCDA. Further discussion was made about the timing of meetings. Commissioner Griffin asked why the Southside couldn’t be done as a whole. Mrs. Gault stated that was to keep density and resources focused on a specific area. Discussion was made about the future boundaries. Discussion was made about keeping development in eyesight of each other and the loan-to-value ratio. Stop-gap measures were also discussed. Incentives were discussed that were akin to Fountain Avenue. Mr. Sommer reminded everyone of the training on April 24th. Commissioner Rhodes asked about the possible Greenway Trail running through the Southside. Mr. Stroup explained that we have a grant from the National Park Service to help with design. It will be released to the public soon. Mr. Stroup the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing for the Southside at a date to be determined. Most likely the public hearing will be on June 2nd. Adjournment Chairman Wade adjourned the meeting at 6:13 PM. Approved: ___________________________________________ Bob Wade, Chairman Drafted by: _____________________________________________ Joshua P. Fowler-Sommer, AICP