Louisville Metro Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting Summary - August 4, 2026
Louisville Metro Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting Summary
The Planning and Zoning Committee met on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 1:04 PM in Council Chambers, with Chair Andrew Owen presiding. The meeting was conducted via video teleconference and adjourned at 1:28 PM. The committee considered four pending ordinances, including three street closure and binding element amendments that advanced to the consent calendar, and a temporary moratorium on data center applications that passed with amendment and was sent to old business.
Consent Calendar
- O-197-26 (Case No. 26AMEND0002): Amendment to binding elements for 908 S. English Station Road to allow short-term rental of the existing north building until construction of a mini storage facility. The Planning Commission recommended approval (8-0). Chair Owen relayed confirmation from Councilman Kramer's office that the short-term rental use would cease once the storage building is operational. The committee voted unanimously (8-0) to recommend approval for the consent calendar.
- O-198-26 (Case No. 26STRCLOSURE0010): Closure of an unnamed alley near W. Breckinridge Street and S. 8th Street (approximately 5,500 sq. ft., zoned M2). The Planning Commission recommended approval (10-0). Vice Chair Reed questioned why the closure did not automatically proceed to consent per prior rule changes; the County Attorney clarified the rule applies only to zoning recommendations. The committee voted unanimously (8-0) to recommend approval for the consent calendar.
- O-199-26 (Case No. 26STRCLOSURE0017): Closure of Mermaid Lane (approximately 1.165 acres, adjacent to Ford properties). The Planning Commission recommended approval (10-0). Chair Owen noted Councilman Winkler's support. The committee voted unanimously (8-0) to recommend approval for the consent calendar.
Discussion Items
- O-135-26 (Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers): Ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on rezoning, conditional use permits, and certain development plan applications for telecommunication hotels and data centers pending review by the Planning Commission. Sponsored by Council Members Chappell, Parrish-Wright, and Hawkins. The committee first voted to return the item to the table (voice vote). Committee Member Hudson moved to strike the second half of the fourth Whereas clause ("nor has a public hearing been held for the public to comment on and suggest potential changes"). Following discussion with County Attorney Laura Ferguson, Committee Member Parrish-Wright successfully moved an amendment to replace the stricken language with "and public hearings are currently being held by the planning commission on the office of planning's recommended changes." The amendment was adopted by voice vote. Council Members Hawkins and Chappell spoke in support, citing constituent concerns and the need for proactive regulation. Council Member Benson opposed, arguing data centers bring revenue and electricity benefits, and that existing zoning already allows such uses. The committee voted 7-1 to recommend approval (Owen, Reed, Parrish-Wright, Raymond, Ruhe, Hudson, Batshon in favor; Benson opposed). The ordinance will go to the full council as old business.
Key Outcomes
- O-197-26, O-198-26, O-199-26: Unanimously recommended for approval and placed on the consent calendar for the August 13, 2026 Metro Council meeting.
- O-135-26: Amended by voice vote to update the fourth Whereas clause to reflect ongoing public hearings. Recommended for approval by a 7-1 vote; placed on old business for the August 13, 2026 Metro Council meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Sonya, can you hire me? Yes, I can hear you. I never want to make sure. Yeah, okay. Okay. I just want to make sure I wouldn't have any buttons. Okay. Welcome to the regular scheduled meeting of the planning and zoning committee. It is August 4th, 2026, and it's 104 p.m. I am the chair of the committee, Andrew Owen. I'm joined by my vice chair virtually Scott Reed, also joined virtually by uh Councilman Benson, Councilwoman Raymond, Councilwoman Hawkins and Hawkins, and I'm joined in chambers by Councilwoman Rui, Councilman Hudson, and Councilman Bat Sean. Um Clerk, you want to read the uh did I say read? I if I did not say I was joined by my Vice Chair Reed, I will say it again that I'm joined being joined virtually by my vice chair Scott Reed. Oh, um I sorry, I also she's wearing a hat, and so she's kind of incognito here in the uh on the on the on the chamber floor here. Uh I'm also joined uh by my esteemed councilwoman colleague uh Shemika Parish right. Thank you, Council Right. I'm like what uh Cheryl, would you like to read the uh the virtual notice in to the record for us? Yes, the meetings be in here, proceed to carry 61.826 and council roof 5A read in full. Thank you. Uh the first item on the agenda is item number one, O-197-26, an ordinance relating to the amendment to binding elements for property located at 908 South English Station Road, containing approximately 12 and a half acres and being in Lowell Metro. Case number 26 AMED, amendment 0002. Can I get a motion? Properly moved and seconded. Uh how are we doing? Good. Are you ready? Yes. All right. Julia Williams, Office of Planning. So this is uh 26 amends 0002, South English Station Road. Uh this is located in Council District 11 at 908 South English Station Road. Uh this is the site. This is the zoning map for the site, zone CM, commercial manufacturing. Uh the request for is for an amendment to binding elements. Uh the binding element, the current binding element states the only permitted C1, C2, M1 or CM use allowed on the property shall be mini storage and recreational vehicles and boat and landscape trailer parking. Uh the applicant would like to add and short-term rental of the existing north building on the site until such time as the mini storage building is constructed to that binding element number 15. Uh this is the applicant's development plan. Uh view of the property from South English Station Road. Uh the planning commission held their public hearing on June 18, uh, 2026, where there was a motion to recommend approval of the amendment to binding element passing by a vote of eight to zero. Are there any questions? Thank you, Julia. Uh let's see here. I should know this. This is in the council district eleven. Oh, this is so I have a um I have a note from Councilman Kramer's LA. Let me find that real quick. Um so one question Council Councilman Kramer has is he he would appreciate confirmation that temporarily means the short-term rental use is permitted only during the construction period, and that once the mini storage slash RB and boat storage facility is operational, the short-term rental use would no longer be permitted under the binding elements. So the binding element says that uh it adds short-term rental of the existing north building until such time as the mini storage building is constructed. So when the mini storage building is constructed, then the short-term rental shall cease on the property. Perfect.
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