Shepherdsville's plans for Chick-fil-A, Texas Roadhouse, Bubba's 33 and Wawa put on hold

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Plans are on hold for now for four new businesses that would be located off Interstate 65 in Shepherdsville because of concerns that they would be too close to an elementary school and cause traffic congestion.

Developers approached the Bullitt County school board with a proposal that would bring Texas Roadhouse, Chick-fil-A, Bubba 33's and a Wawa gas station to a piece of property owned by the district. The property being considered lies between Roby Elementary School and I-65.

However, the school board's concerns about safety and traffic because of its proximity to the school have halted the development for now.

"We want to make sure that if we move forward with this idea, with this project going there, that we can do so in a way that's going to protect the staff and the students at Roby Elementary," said Jesse Bacon, superintendent of Bullitt County Public Schools.

In a recent board meeting, developers and board members discussed the plan for the first time. The safety and traffic concerns were made public by board members.

The main issues stem from the proposal that the development would utilize the existing entrance to Roby Elementary. According to Bacon, the board worries that staff and students using the same entrance as people coming into the restaurants and gas station could pose a safety risk.

That entrance, directly off of Highway 44, is already prone to traffic congestion, especially during rush hour. Board members said in their conversations with the developer that traffic would become considerably worse.

It was mentioned, however, that a traffic light could be installed to ease congestion.

Bacon said that school board isn't opposed to Chick-fil-A, Texas Roadhouse, Bubba's 33 or Wawa, rather the way those businesses would be developed.

"We just gotta ensure that we can keep our students and staff safe at Roby, and we gotta ensure the infrastructure is in place that can support the type of traffic that's going to be coming through there," Bacon said.

He added that those concerns aren't currently being addressed fully.

"We're not comfortable, yet, with the plans to give our blessing to move forward," Bacon said.

Many Bullitt County residents, like Dennis Cottner, are understandably disappointed to miss out on the restaurants right now, but understand why.

"You've got to keep the elementary kids safe, I guess that's true," Cottner said.

Shepherdsville Mayor Jose Cubero said "the city is 100% behind this project," and that there is still hope.

"I think it’s going to take some months, but I think it’s not a situation that it's closed," Cubero said.

He said "right now the only thing we can do is be patient and be able to offer the school board as much information as to see how this partnership can work."

Bacon said the school board is likely open to finding a solution that will allow the businesses to be built.

"If they were to come back to us with a new set of plans, with a new set of ideas for the board to consider, I'm sure that we'll be open minded to consider what those possibilities might be," Bacon said. "But we just haven't gotten to a place yet where the board feels like moving forward."

We reached out to the development group for a comment on the future of the project but haven’t heard back yet.

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