Nature conservancy, neighbors against shopping center development in Jeffersontown

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A busy intersection in Jeffersontown could get even busier due to a development some people are against.

Leaders at Blackacre Conservancy are strongly opposed to a proposed rezoning at Taylorsville Road and Tucker Station Road. The potential development would bring a shopping center to 12515 Taylorsville Road. Tucker Station Grocery is designed by Fisher Architects.

"The traffic is going to come out right where we are and we already have a big enough problem," said Kathleen Rankin, who has lived off Tucker Station Road for more than 20 years.

Rankin's backyard is Blackacre State Nature Preserve. A nearby vacant lot could be turned into a 55,000 square foot grocery and shopping center.

Black acre site 2.jpg — Area of planned development near Blackacre Conservancy.

"We've got one, why do we need another," Rankin said.

Blackacre sits within 800 feet of the proposed shopping development, which would take up about 12 acres of land. Officials with the nature preserve said the project is too big for what was agreed upon in 2008 by property owners and neighbors.

"Fundamentally we've already determine in the Plan Development Code that it's inappropriate for a project of this scale to be in that location," said Donald Wenzel, Blackacre Conservancy board of directors.

The eastern district of Jeffersontown was agreed to be where the new development would go, but the proposed shopping center would be in the historic western district, near the nature preserve.

"We are both an environmental treasure and educational treasure, a cultural treasure, and the agreement made was to make sure we protect it," Wenzel said. "The amount of air pollution, the amount of light pollution would be pretty significantly detrimental to the mission of Blackacre."

Blackacre Conservancy manages 170 acres of the Blackacre State Nature Preserve and Historic Settlement. The conservancy manages 300 acres of historic buildings, stonework, ponds and roadways in Jefferson County. Blackacre has hosted between 6,000 to 10,000 students annually for field trips and education visits, along with around 50,000 guests annually. It was the state's first nature preserve.

Blackacre Conservancy requested a special planning commission meeting from the city, which was granted.

"One of the four planned districts in the land development code for a reason," Wenzel said. "It's important and we need to make sure that it's preserved."

The community meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on April 17 at the Jeffersonian on Taylorsville Road.

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