ORDINANCE NO. _____, SERIES 2026
Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 11 OF THE METRO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE RELATING TO REQUIRED NOTICE FOR ZONING AND FORM DISTRICT MAP AMENDMENTS (CASE NO. 25-LDC-0012)
BODY
SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW OWEN
WHEREAS, Plan 2040 was adopted by the Legislative Council of the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (the “Council”) effective January 1, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Plan 2040 includes five key principles, CHASE, and one of these principles is to provide greater opportunities for citizens to engage within the development review process; and
WHEREAS, the Council passed Resolution No. 031, Series 2025, directing the Louisville Metro Planning Commission (the “Planning Commission”) and its staff to undertake a review of the Land Development Code (“LDC”) with regard to notice provisions for zoning and form district map amendments; and
WHEREAS, Planning and Design Services staff reviewed the LDC and developed text amendments to Chapter 11 regarding required notice for zoning and form district map amendments; and
WHEREAS, the proposed text amendments went to the Planning Committee of the Planning Commission for a public meeting on May 27, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, after meeting on July 30, 2026 and September 17, 2026, on September 17, 2026 recommended that the Council adopt the proposed text amendments to the LDC as set forth in Case No. 25-LDC-0012; and
WHEREAS, Council approves and accepts the recommendation of the Planning Commission as set forth in Case No. 25-LDC-0012.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT (“THE COUNCIL”) AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: Chapter 11, Part 3 of the LDC, Section 11.4.3 Neighborhood Meeting Requirement, is amended as follows:
A. Prior to formally filing a change in zoning request a letter shall be sent from the developer/owner stating that a pre-application has been filed with PDS and announcing a public meeting held by developer/owner to discuss the proposed project. The neighborhood meeting shall not occur before 6:00 PM. The letter shall be mailed no less than 14 calendar days prior to the neighborhood meeting. The letter shall be sent to:
1. First Tier Property Owners - The owner(s) of every parcel of property adjoining at any point, and every parcel directly across the street, from the property that is the subject of the application;
2. Second Tier Property Owners - The owner(s) of every parcel of property that adjoins the adjoining property or the property directly across the street from said adjoining propertywithin 500 feet of the property that is the subject of the application;
3. Additional Owners -
a. In Traditional and Urban Core/Center Form Districts, the owner(s) of every parcel of property within 500 feet of the subject property (measured in a straight line from nearest property line to nearest property line), which were not included as First or Second Tier property owners.
b. In Suburban Form Districts, the owner(s) of every parcel of property within 1,000 feet of the subject property (measured in a straight line from nearest property line to nearest property line), which were not included as First or Second Tier property owners.
c. No notice shall be required for any property within these applicable buffers if there is an Expressway, Major Arterial Street, Railroad, or Perennial Stream between the subject property and the property that would receive notice.
34. Any person listed in the applicable Planning and Design Services Electronic Notification for Development Proposals List for the appropriate Council District will be sent an email notification.
45. The mayor and city clerk of any second through sixth class city if the development is located within such a municipality.
56. Metro Council district representative; and
67. PDS staff; and
78. To “Current Resident” for all dwelling units located on properties within 500 feet of the subject property (measured in a straight line from nearest property line to nearest property line) where notice of First Tier Property Owners and Second Tier Property Owners is required by this part in accordance with Planning Commission bylaws and policies. Addresses for “Current Residents” shall be obtained using available data from Louisville Metro Government, and those records may be relied upon conclusively to determine the dwelling units to be included in the supplemental notice.
. . . .
SECTION II: Chapter 11, Part 4 of the LDC, Section 11.4.5 Public Hearing, is amended as follows:
A. Hearing Required - The Planning Commission shall hold at least one public hearing on each application for a Zoning or Form District Map Amendment. Notice of the hearing shall be given no less than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the scheduled Planning Commission hearing as specified in KRS 100. The notice shall also be sent ot the recipients listed in Section 11.4.3.A above. In addition, staff shall endeavor to assure that notice is given to all neighborhood groups who have registered to receive notice of development applications.
. . . .
SECTION III: This Ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and approval, or otherwise becoming law.
_______________________________ _____________________________
Sonya Harward Brent Ackerson
Metro Council Clerk President of the Council
________________________________ _____________________________
Craig Greenberg Approval Date
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Michael J. O’Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
By:____________________________
O-292-26 - LDC Amendments Regarding Notice for Zoning and Form District Map Amendments 9-18-26 (lf)