ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky (WDRB) — Elizabethtown’s growth is visible across the city — from a new amphitheater to more hotels and a revitalized downtown — but some residents worry development could come at their expense.
City leaders are considering rezoning four neighborhoods bordering downtown from residential to commercial, a change that could allow homes that go up for sale to be converted into businesses and potentially clear the way for buildings up to 75 feet tall.
Fifty-six properties fall within the proposed area.
"These are homes," resident Ruthie Lockhard said.
Lockhard said some residents are elderly and have lived in the area for decades. She also questioned why the city would expand commercial zoning when she said vacant buildings already exist downtown.
Elizabethtown residents are pushing back across proposed commercial rezoning. (WDRB photo)
Asked what types of businesses she would not want next door, Lockhard pointed to possibilities like a liquor store or a walk-up restaurant.
City officials said the rezoning concept was adopted as an addendum to Elizabethtown’s comprehensive plan in April, following an 18-month master plan process.
"During the planning process, consultants had a public meeting, they had an online public survey — we try to get as much input as possible from the community on how we wanted the direction of downtown to go over the next 20-plus years," Director of Planning and Development Aaron Hawkins said.
But after residents began placing signs in their yards opposing the change, the city pulled the item from discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting and postponed it.
"Once we sent notice to have a public hearing to get even more input, that’s when we found out that the community had a lot of concerns and they were asking us to reconsider," Hawkins said.
Neighbors said they appreciate the city slowing the process down, but they remain firm in their stance.
"We love our neighborhoods," Lockhard said. "If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here."
City leaders have scheduled two additional meetings — one in August and another in September — to continue discussing the proposal.
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