Current Threat to Our Community
Kerry and Lou Smith of Rock Ridge Farms filed for a zone change for their property located at 1939 Graefenburg Rd (KY 151). They wish to rezone 450+ acres from agricultural to light industrial to sell the property to Buffalo Trace. Buffalo Trace seeks to install 24 bourbon barrel warehouses housing 1.4 million barrels of bourbon. The community opposes Buffalo Trace due to the increased traffic on an already unsafe road (KY 151 has been removed from the National Truck Network due to safety concerns), property damage from Whiskey Fungus, potential large scale fires, potential contamination of the water basin via leakage into South Benson Creek, light pollution, sound pollution, property devaluation and violations of the comprehensive plan.
Why Should You Care?
The proposed zone change on KY 151 for the Buffalo Trace expansion violates the comprehensive plan, the original designation of agricultural was correct, and there has not been any significant changes in the area; all are criteria for spot zoning. Planning in a community should occur in a logical and consistent manner. Without zoning laws, you could have industrial manufacturing right next to your neighborhood or have increased traffic on a road that is already dangerous, spot zoning affects us all.
