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Welcome to Oldham Ahead!

 

Photo by Shauna Damin

           Learn what Oldham Ahead is doing to enhance the county’s natural and cultural resources while working to sustain its equine, agricultural, and commercial base.   We invite you to learn what you can do to contribute to the county’s future vision.

"Preserving a Rural Legacy for the 22nd Century"

March 19, 2010

60,316

Census 2010 Results Released March 17 

According to the 2010 Census released on March 17, 2010, the Oldham County population on April 1, 2010 was officially 60,316. 

Oldham County's population increased by 14,138 persons from 2000, a 30.6 percent increase.

Below is a snapshot of Oldham County based on the data released to date:

•   Oldham County is now the Commonwealth’s 15^th most populous county, moving up from 16 in the 2000 census.

The top 15 counties in population in Kentucky are reflected below:

Kentucky Counties Ranked by Population
Total Population Ranks from the 2010 Census:
Rank	County	Pop. 2000	Pop. 2010	# change	% change
1	Jefferson	693,604	741,096	47,492	6.8
2	Fayette	260,512	295,803	35,291	13.5
3	Kenton	151,464	159,720	8,256	5.5
4	Boone	85,991	118,811	32,820	38.2
5	Warren	92,522	113,792	21,270	23
6	Hardin	94,174	105,543	11,369	12.1
7	Daviess	91,545	96,656	5,111	5.6
8	Campbell	88,616	90,336	1,720	1.9
9	Madison	70,872	82,916	12,044	17
10	Bullitt	61,236	74,319	13,083	21.4
11	Christian	72,265	73,955	1,690	2.3
12	McCracken	65,514	65,565	51	0.1
13	Pike	68,736	65,024	-3,712	-5.4
14	Pulaski	56,217	63,063	6,846	12.2
15	Oldham	46,178	60,316	14,138	30.6

Oldham County's  3 percent average annual growth suggests that Oldham County will likely pass Pulaski, Pike, McCracken, and Christian counties in population during the coming decade.

•   Oldham County is ranked 5th of the Commonwealth's 120 counties with respect to numeric change (14,138).  For counties of 70,000 or less, Oldham County ranked first. In comparison, Oldham County grew by 12,915 from 1990-2000, a 38.7 percent increase.

Kentucky Counties Ranked by Population
Total Population Ranks from the 2010 Census:
Rank	County	Pop. 2000	Pop. 2010	# change	% change
1	Jefferson	693,604	741,096	47,492	6.8
2	Fayette	260,512	295,803	35,291	13.5
3	Boone	85,991	118,811	32,820	38.2
4	Warren	92,522	113,792	21,270	23
5	Oldham	46,178	60,316	14,138	30.6
6	Scott	33,061	47,173	14,112	42.7
7	Bullitt	61,236	74,319	13,083	21.4
8	Madison	70,872	82,916	12,044	17
9	Hardin	94,174	105,543	11,369	12.1
10	Jessamine	39,041	48,586	9,545	24.4

•   Oldham County was ranked 4th with respect to percentage change of population from 2000-2010.

Kentucky Counties Ranked by Population
Total Population Ranks from the 2010 Census:
Rank	County	Pop. 2000	Pop. 2010	# change	% change
1	Spencer	11,766	17,061	5,295	45
2	Scott	33,061	47,173	14,112	42.7
3	Boone	85,991	118,811	32,820	38.2
4	Oldham	46,178	60,316	14,138	30.6
5	Shelby	33,337	42,074	8,737	26.2
6	Jessamine	39,041	48,586	9,545	24.4
7	Warren	92,522	113,792	21,270	23
8	Bullitt	61,236	74,319	13,083	21.4

•   The distribution of the population within Oldham County is important to understand where growth has taken place the past 10 years and where it will likely take place in the future.  Census data are broken into geographic  Census Tracts and Census Blocks.  Below are Census Tract details that provide a general idea of the geographic distribution of growth during the first decade of the 21st century.  For the 2010 Census, the Bureau has split out Census Tracts 303 (LaGrange area); 304 (Centerfield/Ballardsville areas); and 307 (Brownsboro/Buckner/West Oldham/and South Goshen-Prospect area).  For comparison purposes, we have rolled up the the new tracts into their 2000 “parent” tracts to show population trends.

Census Tract	Area Description	1990 Census	2000 Census	Change 1990-2000	Percent Change 1900-2000	2010 Census	Change 2000-2010	Percent Change 2000-2010
301	Westport/L’Espirit	1,583	1,941	358	22.6%	2,299	358	18.4%
302	Buckner	2,202	4,162	1,960	90.0%	5,164	1,002	24.1%
303	LaGrange	4,707	6,093	1,386	29.4%		1,556	25.5%
303.01	LaGrange West					3,159
303.02	LaGrange East					4,490
304	Centerfield/Balardsville	4,856	7,466	2,610	53.7%		1,591	21.3%
304.01	Centerfield					6,416
304.02	Ballardsville					2,641
305.01	Pewee Valley	3,536	3,827	291	8.2%	4,092	265	6.9%
305.02	Crestwood (S. Rt 22)	1,864	3,431	1,567	84.0%	4,650	1,219	35.5%
306.01	Crestwood (West)	3,599	4,529	930	25.8%	5,921	1,392	30.7%
306.02	Crestwood (N. Rt 22)	2,921	3,885	964	33.0%	5,006	1,121	28.9%
307	Brownsboro/N.Oldham	3,037	4,847	1,810	59.6%		3,119	64.3%
307.01	S. Goshen					2,280
307.02	Brownsboro / Buckner      West/GlenOaks					5,686
308.01	Prospect	1,413	1,687	274	19.4%	3,901	2,214	131.2%
308.02	Goshen	3,545	4,310	765	21.6%	4,611	301	7.0%
	Total	33,363	46,178	12,915	38.7%	60,316	14,138	30.6%
Note:  2010 Census broke out Census Tracts 303, 304, and 307 into two tracts each.
For comparison purposes, we have rolled 2010 sub-tracts together to compared to parent 2000 tract.

It is important to note that the county's institutionalized population in the Buckner area is included in Oldham County's total population.  For the 2000 Census, Oldham County ranked 3rd in the Commonwealth with 3,789 institutionalized persons--8.2% of the county's population of 46,178.  The 2010 institutionalized data are not available in the initial data provided.

The graphic below reflects the percentage increase of Oldham County's 2000 to 2010 growth by Census Tract.

 

The chart below shows Oldham County's growth since 1900.  County officials and planners must plan for an Oldham County that will approach a population of 72,000 - 80,000 by 2020 and 90,000 or more by 2030.  The decisions made today will determine the quality of life for tomorrow.

Census	Population
1900	7,078
1910	7,248
1920	7,689
1930	7,402
1940	10,716
1950	11,018
1960	13,388
1970	14,687
1980	27,795
1990	33,263
2000	46,178
2010	60,316

As we have done since the 2000 Census, Oldham Ahead will analyze the recently released data and additional Census data to be released over the next few months to provide Oldham County citizens, elected officials, and planners details of the 2010 Census.

December 31, 2010

Louise Allen Named Executive Director of Oldham Ahead

The Board of Directors of Oldham Ahead named Louise Allen as Executive Director of Oldham Ahead.  Louise brings a wealth of planning and community knowledge and expertise to Oldham Ahead.  Louise recently retired as the Planning and Development Director for Oldham County.  Contact Louise at (502) 643-6156.

December 28, 2010

Oldham Ahead Board Members Add Kentucky Mesonet Weather Tower

The Kentucky Mesonet is a network of automated weather and climate monitoring stations being developed by the Kentucky Climate Center at Western Kentucky University to serve diverse needs in communities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  

Oldham and Shelby counties are the newest members of a network of weather stations across Kentucky that provide real-time information like temperature and rainfall. With 33-foot towers and monitoring equipment, the stations measure wind speed and direction, precipitation, solar radiation, temperature and humidity and send the information to databases maintained by the Kentucky Climate Center at Western Kentucky University.

The information is updated every 15 minutes on the network’s website, kymesonet.org, which has had more than 311,000 visitors this year.

The Mesonet program is overseen by a five-person staff as well as student workers at Western. In establishing new stations, Foster said they look for property owners who are willing to donate land and don’t plan to sell their property.

Oldham’s tower is on the 1,000-acre Woodland Farm in Goshen, the home of Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, founders of the 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville and Oldham Ahead. 

Stephanie Tittle, left, Laura Lee Brown, and Steve Wilson in front of the weather station. Tittle is using the data from the tower to help her with planting in the garden on the property - the garden is used to grow foods for 21C in Louisville (By Bill Luster, The Courier-Journal) December 16 , 2010

The Kentucky Climate Center, housed in the Department of Geography and Geology, is the State Climate Office for Kentucky recognized by the American Association of State Climatologists. As a member of the National Climate Services Partnership, the Kentucky Climate Center is a partner with the National Climatic Data Center, the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, and the National Weather Service.

The Kentucky Mesonet provides outreach to local communities, enhancing quality of life for people throughout the commonwealth. Outreach starts by working with local officials and stakeholders to identify sites that meet scientific criteria and provide added community benefits. Mesonet data are easily accessible and can be used to improve local forecasts and severe weather warnings, aid emergency response efforts, enhance agricultural productivity, assist local utility providers, and support business and industry.

Data from the Kentucky Mesonet will be available in every K-12 classroom throughout the commonwealth to support science and math education. Faculty and students in Kentucky's eight public universities are charter members of the Kentucky Mesonet Consortium.

Read the Courier-Journal article from December 28, 2010.

December 14, 2010

Brownsboro School Campus Planning Commission Hearing

Commission Requests Roads, Sewer and Water Data

Hearing to Continue January 25

The Oldham County Planning Commission considered the Oldham County Board of Education's proposed Master Plan for its Brownsboro area school campus site during the December 14 Planning Commission meeting.  Board representatives provided the commission the conceptual design of the future site for a new elementary, middle and high school, and no information regarding infrastructure (roads, sewer, water), costs, or whether the board coordinated the design with the Oldham County government in order to ensure county approved master plans were considered and incorporated into the campus master plan in order to optimize taxpayer funds.

Several Brownsboro area residents provided detailed information and questions for the commission to consider, maintaining the plan fails to meet the Community Facilities goals and objectives of the county's Comprehensive Plan and fails to comply with the Brownsboro Master Plan approved in April 2009.

The commission elected to defer its decision on the master plan, requesting roads, sewer and water information from the Board of Education.

“The school board has not done a good job in listening to the community,” said commissioner Tom Henrion.  “We should send a message today to that affect.”

The Board of Education is required under KRS 100.324 to refer proposals for land acquisition for public facilities, or changes to the character, location, or extent of structures for public facilities to the commission to be reviewed in light of its agreement with the comprehensive plan. 

The Commission is very limited in its powers with respect to the Board of Education which is a separate government entity from county government.  Under the KRS, the commission shall within 60 days from the receipt of a plan, "review the project and advise the referring body whether the project is in accordance with the comprehensive plan.  If it disapproves of the project, the commission shall state the reasons for disapproval in writing and make suggestions for changes, which will, in its opinion, better accomplish the objectives of the comprehensive plan." 

Until recently, the Board failed to comply with referring land acquisition or facilities plan to the Commission. 

In addition to arguing that the master plan fails to comply with the Oldham County Comprehensive Plan, the opposition to the plan questioned whether school enrollment figures justified the campus at all, and asserted that recently announced closing of Liberty Elementary School is being pursued to justify a new elementary school on the Brownsboro campus site.  

Commentary:  Oldham Ahead is very concerned with the process, or lack of process the Board of Education has followed with respect to the Brownsboro Campus land acquisition, collaboration with county government, transparency with the public, and compliance with Kentucky law and administrative regulations .  The submission to the Commission of only the campus conceptual plan see above was an insult to the Planning Commission and the public at large.  The Board of Education has a significant file containing road, sewer, water, environmental impacts and other issues it could have made available to the commission for thoughtful consideration.  During the hearing, Board representatives refused to answer questions regarding the estimated cost of a campus or whether the county Parks and Recreation plan was considered in the development of the its campus master plan.  It is also obvious that the plan also fails to consider the Fiscal Court approved Bike, Pedestrian, and Greenways master plan.  The commission will continue its review of the master plan during its 25 January meeting in LaGrange.  Interested citizens should review the Insight Channel 25 video of the December 14 hearing, or view the hearings on-line here to form your own opinion.

Hearing, Part 1

Hearing, Part 2

Hearing, Part 3

Download the Master Plan

Related Stories:

Planning Commission to Revisit Brownsboro Campus Questions at Hearing on January 25, Courier-Journal, January 19, 2011
Flow of Information a Point of Contention at Fiscal Court Meeting, Oldham Era, January 19, 2011

Liberty Sacrificed, Letter to the Editor, Oldham Era, January 13, 2011

Plans for Brownsboro School Campus Site Brings Heated Debate, Oldham Era, December 16, 2010
School Enrollment May Drop Slightly, Courier-Journal, December 22, 2010
School District Plans 3 School at Brownsboro Site, Oldham Era, October 26, 2010

Quick Hits:  Oldham County News of Interest

Curry's Fork:  Swimmable, Fishable, and Drinkable, Oldham Era, April 27, 2011
Enough of the Eight:  Brownsboro School Issue Column, Oldham Era, April 21, 2011
Superintendent:  Success is a Tradition, Oldham Era, March 4, 2011
Ashbourne Farm Going Green, WAVE News, February 24, 2011
Details for Brownsboro School Dont Add Up, Oldham Era, February 17, 2011
Superintendent Addressed Brownsboro Campus Questions, Oldham Era, February 10, 2011
Liberty Elementary School Sacrificed?  Oldham Era Column, January 13, 2011

New Weather Monitoring Equipment in Oldham County, Courier-Journal, December 28, 2010
Fiscal Court Members Reflect, Oldham Era, December 23, 2010
Letter to Editor:  Liberty Elementary, Oldham Era, December 23, 2010
Census Estimates Show Oldham by the Numbers, Courier-Journal, December 22, 2010
School Enrollment May Drop Slightly, Courier-Journal, December 22, 2010
Brentwood Plan Approved Again, Courier-Journal, December 22, 2010
Plans for Brownsboro School Campus Site Brings Heated Debate, Oldham Era, December 16, 2010
Magistrates Divvy Committee Posts, Oldham Era, December 10, 2010
Liberty Elementary School to Close, Oldham Era, December 2, 2010
School Budget Passes with Late Addition, Courier-Journal, October 6, 2010
Nine Oldham County Schools Fall Short in Federal Performance Goals, Oldham Era, September 30, 2010
More Than Half of Oldham Grads Are College Ready, Oldham Era, September 30, 2010
Surprise $2M Changes School Board Budget, Oldham Era, September 30, 2010
Oldham County Schools Test Results Show Overall Drop, Courier-Journal, September 20, 2010
Property Tax Discounts for Developers will Stand, Oldham Era, September 23, 2010
Taxpayers Should Say NO to Increased Spending, Oldham Era, September 23, 2010
Pedestrian Bridge Step in Right Direction (Oldham Era, 16 September 2010)
Oldham County Sewer District Audit (Oldham Era, 16 September 2010)
Oldham Pedestrian Projects Move Forward (Courier-Journal, 15 September 2010)
Oldham School Board Hikes Tax Rate (Courier-Journal, 8 September 2010)

October 3, 2010

Schools and Schools Property Tax Issues

Test Scores Decline

School Property Tax Increase

Impact to Quality of Life to be Determined

Oldham County's high quality of life is largely tied to its quality public school system which is largely responsible for the county's
impressive growth the past 30 years.

The housing industry collapse has slowed population growth in the county.  School population growth has been flat the past few years.  What is also flat and declining is school performance.

Below are seven stories from the Oldham Era and the Courier-Journal the past two weeks that are all related.  Oldham County taxpayers should ask themselves are they getting the most bang for the buck with respect to their property taxes that go to the Board of Education.

School Budget Passes with Late Addition, Courier-Journal, October 6, 2010
Nine Oldham County Schools Fall Short in Federal Performance Goals, Oldham Era, September 30, 2010
More Than Half of Oldham Grads Are College Ready, Oldham Era, September 30, 2010
Surprise $2M Changes School Board Budget, Oldham Era, September 30, 2010
Oldham County Schools Test Results Show Overall Drop, Courier-Journal, September 20, 2010
Property Tax Discounts for Developers will Stand, Oldham Era, September 23, 2010
Taxpayers Should Say NO to Increased Spending, Oldham Era, September 23, 2010

September 19, 2010

Pedestrian Bridge over I-71 To Move Forward

Key to Oldham County Greenways Plan

Pedestrian Bridge Step in Right Direction (Oldham Era, 16 September 2010)

Oldham Pedestrian Projects Move Forward (Courier-Journal, 15 September 2010)

29 April 2010

Kentucky Auditor of Public Account Releases Letter Regarding
Oldham County School's Purchase of Brownsboro Campus Site

School District Failed to Follow Kentucky Administrative Regulations

Crit Luallen, the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts (APA) released a letter to the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education on April 29 regarding an Oldham County Board of Education (OCBOE) real property transaction in October 2009.

The APA looked into three concerns:

1.  Did the Oldham County Board of Education comply with 702 KAR 4:050 relative to the transaction?
2.  Was the purchase price OCBOE paid for the property fair and reasonable?
3.  Was the role of a third party in the purchase appropriate?

View the Letter to Commissioner Holliday

Then watch the Video below to help you determine if the price paid was fair and reasonable:

June 20, 2008 Board of Assessment Appeals Video

29 April 2010

Oldham Ahead Directors Buy Historic Hermitage Farm

Landmark Oldham Thoroughbred Operation to Remain an Equine Operation

Oldham Ahead Board of Director members Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson are purchasing Hermitage Farm, the historic 700 acre thoroughbred breeding operation located in the Goshen area of Oldham County.   They are purchasing the farm from Carl Pollard.

"Laura Lee and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to become part of Hermitage Farm’s great history," Wilson said in a statement. "It has long been a dream of ours that Hermitage farm remain the same beautiful open green space that it is today. We’ve been working for the last few months to create this unique agreement with Carl, and are confident it will have long-reaching benefits for the community.

"We plan to honor the farm’s remarkable tradition far into the future, and intend to place the property in an environmental conservation easement."

Brown and Wilson said they plan to hold an "exhaustive planning session" on Monday and Tuesday, May 3 and 4, with architects and equine industry leaders about how to "chart the proper future course for Hermitage."

Brown and Wilson previously bought about 180 acres of mostly unimproved land on the 700-acre farm from Pollard in 2003 and have leased that back to him for the last seven years.

 “It’s a breeding farm that’s (got) great tradition and history in Kentucky and our interest is preserving the farm and making it more vibrant and developing more horse activities in order to save the farm,” Wilson told the Louisville Courier-Journal. 

Laura Lee and Steve have been leaders in Oldham County and Kentucky in promoting land conservation and smart growth.  They placed 244 acres of their Woodland Farm located near Westport in a conservation easement to the Kentucky Purchase of Agricultural Conservations Easements Corporation and have been extremely active in land and historic preservation issues.  

Laura Lee and Steve are among the founders of Oldham Ahead in 1999 and once again have taken demonstrative action to preserve Oldham County’s rich rural and equine heritage. 

Read the Press Reports

Courier-Journal

Oldham Era

Blood-Horse.com

Herald-Leader

Cincinnati.com

28 March 2010

Census Bureau Releases New Oldham County Population Estimates

Last Year's Growth of 370 Slowest Since 1971

The Census Bureau released the 2009 County Population estimates on March 21, 2010.  The estimated Oldham County population as of July 1, 2009 was 58,095.  Since the 2000 census, Oldham County has realized a net gain of 11,477 people--an overall 24.6 percent increase.  Oldham County’s population increased by an estimated 370 persons from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2009—the lowest single year estimated population increase for the county since 1971.

 The 2009 population estimates are the last set of county population estimates data to be released by the Census Bureau  prior to the 2010 Census.  Given the latest estimates, the official county population as of 1 April 2010 will likely be approximately 58,500.

The nine years of estimate data since 2000 provide a good picture of Oldham County’s growth the first decade of the 21^st Century.  Highlights include:  

• Oldham County’s estimated population of 58,095 places it 15^th of 120 Commonwealth counties
• Oldham County has grown by 24.6 percent since April 2000—6^th in the state
• The county’s 11,477 population increase since April 2000 ranks 8^th 
• The county’s 5,132 birth’s this decade to date ranks 23^rd
• The county’s 2,679 deaths this decade to date ranks 38^th
• An estimated 8,838 net persons migrated domestically into the county, ranking Oldham County 3^rd in the state
• An estimated 330 net persons migrated internationally into the county, ranking Oldham County 21^st in the state

Download our 2009 Population and Housing Trends Information Paper

March 2010

New Oldham County Geographic Information System (GIS) Provides Free Mapping Data

The Oldham Geographic information Consortium has launched their free GIS website providing information such as aerial photography, parcels, streets, addresses, zoning, magistrate districts, greenways, floodplains, and more.  We urge you to visit www.oldhamgis.org and follow the "GIS Internet Mapping" link. 

It will take some time to figure out the capabilities of the GIS mapping available on the site, but this new, free services provides citizens detailed information not previously readily available.

Oldham County Maps and  Property Data Available On-Line (Courier-Journal, 24 February 2010)

School Enrollment and Housing Starts Data

The Oldham County School District provided the Planning Commission its latest enrollment data during the February 23 Planning Commission meeting.  The commission approved the Three Year Enrollment and Growth Comparison provided by the Board of Education.  The data, which also includes five-year enrollment figures, along with projections out to school year 2014/15 by school is useful for the commission when considering proposed new developments.  We've taken the data contained in the latest comparison and added previous data back to the 2002/03 school year to provide a view of the enrollment trends, percentages, and comparison with Oldham County housing starts.

The chart below reflects the dramatic fall-off of first school month new enrollment from the 2007/08 school year to the past two years.

The enrollment percentages are shown below.

The decline in enrollment is, of course, related to the housing decline.  The Board of Education provides the new housing starts with its enrollment data and computes a ratio of new students to new houses.  The ratio fell from a high of 1.019 in the 2006/07 school year to a low of .122 for the 2008/09 school year, a year that resulted in only 34 new students.

The housing and student declines are adversely affecting schools funding from both a property tax perspective and from the state allocation of funding based on student headcount. 

26 January 2010

Oldham County Planning and Zoning Services 2009 Annual Report

The Oldham County Planning and Zoning Services Department released its Annual Report of activities, housing permit and building permit statistics, county demographics, Planning Commission case summary and more.  Extracted from the report is the graphic below, which provides 10 years of approved preliminary plat, record plat and building permit data.

The graphic below reflects the geographic distribution of new housing permits in Oldham County during 2009.

Download the 2009 Annual Report

January 2010

North and South Oldham High Schools Name to U.S. & News Report Best High Schools for 2010

North Oldham and South Oldham High School were recognized in December by U.S. & News Report as Silver Award Best High Schools in the U.S.  There were no Gold Award schools in Kentucky and only eight Silver Award High Schools.

Both high schools repeated from 2009, and North Oldham was also named a Silver Award High School in 2008.

Click here to view Kentucky's Silver and Bronze High Schools.

The quality of Oldham County's schools is a key quality of life indicator for the overall county quality of life.  The Oldham County Board of Education faces financial challenges that impact teacher salaries, class sizes, and future student performance.  Superintendent of Schools Paul Upchurch addressed those challenges in a November 5 op-ed in the Oldham Era.

Challenges Face Oldham County Schools

The Oldham County Board of Education has established goals for Oldham County schools the past two years.  The District Goals and results are provided below.  The results may surprise many Oldham County citizens.

District Goals 2008-2009

District Goals 2009-2010

Click here for Kentucky's Property Tax Rates to Compare
Oldham County's Fiscal Court and School Taxes with Other Kentucky Counties

Oldham County Planning and Development Monthly Reports Available

The Oldham County Planning and Development Department has begun publishing monthly highlights of the department's activities.  The are available on the Oldham County Government website or you can download the reports below.  The reports provide updates and news and activity of interest for Oldham County citizens, to include  Planning Commission and building permitting activities and statistics. The reports also provide listings of upcoming planning and development related meetings.

July 2010   August 2010

December 6, 2009

Residential Housing Permits Continue to Lag in 2009

The chart and data below are extracted from November's Planning and Development Monthly Report and reflects
the continued impact of the housing slow-down in the county.

June 24th 2009

 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Phase 1 of Commerce Parkway Bike and Pedestrian Trail

The ribbon-cutting/ground breaking ceremony for Phase 1 of the Commerce Parkway Bike and Pedestrian Trail  took place on Wednesday, June 24th at 5 p.m. on the Commerce Parkway trails near the intersection of Allen Lane and Commerce Parkway.   Greenways for Oldham County co-sponsor of the event.  

Phase 1 of the project is a 1.2 mile section from the vicinity of the Oldham 8 Plaza to Allen Lane along Commerce Parkway.  Phase 2 will extend the trail westward from Allen Lane to Hwy 393 in the Buckner Area and will result in a 3.2 mile safe, multiuse trail that will eventually connect LaGrange and Pewee Valley.

Phase 2 of the Commerce Parkway Trail has been funded and the contract bid awarded.  Work has commenced with a fall 2009 completion target date projected.

Oldham Ahead has supported the joint Oldham County, City of LaGrange, and Greenways for Oldham County effort to fund and construct this important quality of life enhancement to the county.

Visit www.OldhamGreenways.org to see what is happening with trails in Oldham County.

 Left:  A walker tries out the trail under construction on June 6, 2009

April 21, 2009

Oldham County Fiscal Court Approves County's First Area Master Plan

Brownsboro Plan Approved 7-0 with Amendments

The Oldham County Fiscal Court approved the Brownsboro Area Master Plan on Tuesday, April 21--nearly three years after the process to write the plan commenced.  The Oldham County Planning Commission approved the the county's first area master plan by a 13-1 vote on Tuesday, February 24, 2009.   Fiscal Court made several minor changes to the draft plan during the nearly three-hour hearing.

This plan is important not only to the residents of the Brownsboro area, but to the county as a whole as the area master plans allow citizens in sub-sectors of the county to develop their own area master plans. Master plans are to be more responsive to local needs and issues than the Comprehensive Plan. The master plan process allows citizens an active role in shaping the future of their communities.

In early 2006, the Planning and Development staff selected the Brownsboro area for the development of the initial county area master plan due to its past and future development trends and more importantly, the willingness of residents to actively participate in the process.

From its inception, the citizens and planning staff who were involved in the development of the plan have gone out of their way to ensure inclusiveness of the entire planning area’s residents. Residents were informed of the project and asked to participate. That meeting was well attended at the Brownsboro Community Center and resulted in the following vision for the Brownsboro area:

The Brownsboro Planning Area is a unique, environmentally sensitive, rural community with connected greenways, designated growth areas, well-planned infrastructure and design elements, all of which protect the Harrods Creek watershed and respect local character. The Brownsboro Planning Ares includes diverse housing, small businesses, farmland, equine activity, scenic views and village centers compatible with small town living.

Volunteers were solicited from the initial kick-off meeting to form a task force to develop goals and objectives to support the vision, and then to help write the content and develop recommendations for the county to consider to implement the plan. The task force comprised a mixture of 20 residents, business owners, developers, planning commission members, and fiscal court members. All meetings have been open to the public.

The task force focused on how to manage and shape growth and future redevelopment in the Brownsboro Village area in a way that respects the area’s character while accommodating future growth. Task Force members focused on alternatives that would lead to the increase of property values throughout the planning area, while ensuring property rights of residents are recognized and respected. 

The document that the Planning and Zoning Commission and Fiscal Court  approved provides guidance and direction for future growth of the Brownsboro planning area. It is not a regulatory document. 

The completed Brownsboro Area Master Plan is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and, upon adoption, will update it. The purpose of the plan is to describe a future vision for Brownsboro and to provide helpful information to reach that future. 

The plan introduces the concept of using various incentives to achieve the plan’s vision for the future. The incentives — primarily density bonuses — are suggested for incorporation into the subdivision regulations and zoning ordinance and are intended to ensure that landowners and/or developers retain and even gain housing density if they desire to implement suggested guidelines intended to maintain the rural character and land and housing values of the community. 

There are no provisions in the plan that precludes any rezoning and development as currently practiced in the county. The Brownsboro Plan does not change the current subdivision regulations and zoning ordinance. Recommendations from the plan are prescriptive, not regulatory, but can provide developers key insight into community values and attitudes to take into consideration when proposing new developments. 

Judge-Executive Duane Murner’s vision for Oldham County is that we must become, and strive to remain, the best rural/suburban county in the nation. Exceptional counties, and the great communities and neighborhoods within them, don’t just happen. Communities constantly grow and change, and we can ensure that these changes are positive through the plans we make today. 

The Brownsboro Area Master Plan matters to each and every citizen of Oldham County who wants to identify, preserve, and build on the positive qualities of their section or neighborhood of the county.   The approval of the plan sets the stage for citizens in the other seven areas defined by the County's Comprehensive Plan to begin their own area master planning process.

Upon publishing of a final, cleaned up copy by the Oldham County Planning and Development Department, we will post the final version on this site.

Read The Oldham Era's John Foster's Story from February 26

Read the Courier-Journal's Andrea Uhde's Story from March 4

Read why the plan is critical to the future of Oldham County

Download a Copy of the Final Plan

April 22, 2009

Kentucky State Data Center Releases Kentucky Population Projections

Population Projected to Double Between 2010 and 2050

The Kentucky State Data Center has published new state population projections on its website.  Kentucky Population Research produces projections of populations for the state of Kentucky, Area Development Districts, and Counties. Forecasts are revised periodically. Released in April 2009, these projections replace all previous forecasts, to include the last forecasts published in 2004.

The table below reflects Kentucky's and Oldham County's projected populations through 2050.  From a planning perspective, the county will be looking at a population of 100,000 by the year 2040 or so:  will it have the infrastructure in place necessary to accommodate the projected population and will the county have the means to ensure the high quality of life citizens will expect? 

Projections of Total Population: Oldham County, Kentucky
	Census	Estimates		Projections
	2000 (April 1)	2000   (July 1)	2005   (July 1)	2010    (July 1)	2015    (July 1)	2020    (July 1)	2025    (July 1)	2030    (July 1)	2035    (July 1)	2040    (July 1)	2045    (July 1)	2050    (July 1)
Oldham	46,178	46,978	52,744	59,271	66,126	73,469	81,279	88,862	96,055	102,910	109,641	116,279

 

Visit the Kentucky State Data Center Projections Page:

http://ksdc.louisville.edu/kpr/pro/projections.htm

Download Population Projection Excel Spreadsheets

Kentucky Population Projections
Kentucky Population Projections by Growth and Component of Change
Kentucky Population Projection by Age and Sex

February 4, 2009

2007 Census of Agriculture Released

Number of Oldham County Farms and Acreage in Farms Decline 4% from 2002

Results of the 2007 Census on Agriculture were released on February 4, 2009. 

The Census of Agriculture, taken every five years, is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The Census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures and many other areas.

The census of agriculture is the leading source of facts and statistics about the Nation’s agricultural production. It provides a detailed picture of U.S. farms and ranches every five years and is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every State and county or county equivalent in the U.S.

The census definition of a farm is any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year.  The data are available online at www.nass.usda.gov or www.agcensus.usda.gov.

 

Oldham County acres in farms declined by an estimated 2,537 from 2002 to 2007, or four percent.  The number of farms also decreased by 4 percent, from 481 in 2002 to 461 in 2007.

Several thousand acres of land have been approved for development the past few years but are counted in land in farms until development actually begins.

The 2007 Census of Agriculture data for Oldham County reflect that the county ranks 62nd of 120 counties in the Commonwealth in the total value of agricultural products sold in 2007. 

Oldham County ranked 42nd in grain sales; 92nd in tobacco; 7th in nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod; 83rd in cattle and calves; 44th in milk from cows; and 6th in horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys.  Oldham County ranked first in bison sales in Kentucky.

The horses and ponies inventory totaled 2,838 as of December 31, 2007, which was 11th in Kentucky and 297th of 3,066 counties in the nation with equine inventories (top 10 percent nation-wide).  An estimated 8,319 cattle and calves were included in the 2007 Census for the county--81st in the state.  Thirteen farms recorded sales greater than $500,000 or more in 2007. 

A total of 176 individuals indicated that farming was their primary occupation, down from 247 in 2007.    The average age of principal operators was 58.2 was 2007, up from 56.9 in 2002.  

It is important that Oldham County elected officials and citizens recognize the economic value of the county's agricultural and equine industries.  The county's 461 farms contribute to the tax base while requiring minimal county and school services and provide the rural landscapes that Oldham County citizens value.

2008 New Housing Building Permits Data

The charts below reflect the housing slowdown in Oldham County.  The total number of new housing permits issued for 2008 totaled 224, including 170 permitted single family detached homes.  The total number of permits dropped 115 from 2007, and 607 from 2003.  While the economy and gas prices are certainly factors in the decrease in building activity, speculative building, easy mortgages coupled with suspect appraisals, and increased commuting time to Louisville certainly are playing a role in the current housing decline. 

The chart below compares the number of housing units approved by the Oldham County Planning Commission, the number of building permits issued, and the annual percent change of Oldham County's population from 2000-2008.
(The percent change of population from 2007 to 2008 has not been released by the Census Bureau yet).  While the number of approved units and building permits have varied considerably since 2004, the annual population increase varied only slightly from year to year--generally about 2.5 percent per year.  This graph dramatically shows the excess housing units (compared to building permits and population growth) approved during the speculative building period between 2004 to 2007.  It appears that 2008 approved units (which includes 538 single family detached homes and 446 patio homes, townhomes and condos) will only increase the potential oversupply of housing units within Oldham County for several years in the future.

                   What's Happening Oldham County An Excellent Local Resource
                   of County Government, Non-Profit Organizations Information

  What's Happening Oldham County is provided to each county household twice a year.
  The publication includes contributed articles from Judge-Executive Duane Murner and County
  Government Departments; the Oldham County Board of Education; County Library;
  Health Department; and non-profit and for profit service providers in the county.

                                             Download Current and Previous Editions

                                                                                             Fall Winter 2009
                                                                                          Spring-Summer 2009
                                                                                              Fall-Winter 2008
                                                                                           Spring-Summer 2008
 

Health Update:  Another Quality of Life Indicator

This 2007 Health of Kentucky report from the Kentucky Institute of Medicine provides objective data and resource information about risk factors and disease outcomes. This information is meant to assist officials and concerned citizens at the county level in assessing the health of their community and making decisions that will improve health. A county profi le and ranking was developed for each of Kentucky’s counties to focus attention on these critical factors at the state and county level. Each county profile contains 25 items which have equal weight in a ranking of 1 (best) to 120 (worst) as a measure of the county’s health status relative to the other counties. The most and least healthy counties in Kentucky, according to the county profi les, are presented in Tables I and II. The Health of Kentucky describes a process to help counties improve their health status and provides examples of communities which have undertaken health improvement activities.Guidance is provided for conducting local studies and surveys. The report also provides suggested community interventions, model programs, and resources related to each of the measures included in the individual county profiles.  Oldham County Synopsis Oldham County has the lowest health risks among all Kentucky counties based on measures for this study. The county has the highest percent of high school graduates, insured residents, and low rates of obesity and diabetes diagnoses. The county also ranks well in terms of oral health, motor vehicle deaths, cancer, and total deaths. Community leaders can work to maintain these favorable health conditions and improve others by encouraging healthy behaviors. While smoking and lung cancer deaths for Oldham County are less than the average rate for Kentucky, they remain substantially higher than U.S. rates. Oldham County also has breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer rates that are higher than rates for both Kentucky and the nation. Programs designed to encourage smokers to cut back with the goal of quitting combined with a strong effort to discourage youth from starting to smoke are actions that can help lower lung cancer and smoking-related deaths. Regular screening and early detection and treatment can reduce breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer deaths. Oldham County Leading Causes of Death, 2000-2003 Comparative Assessment 2007

Oldham County a State Leader in Land in Agricultural Districts with 11,651 Acres

4,051 Acres Added in 2008 following 3,901 Acres in 2007

Read the Courier-Journal Article from October 1

Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Economic Study:  $79 billion
Kentucky's Impact Most Likely Larger

Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Economic Impact Study Released:  Kentucky’s Ag and Forestry Impact may be Larger than Thought The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia released Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Economic Impact Study on September 24, 2008.  The study reveals that Virginia agriculture and forestry contribute about $79 billion annually to Virginia’s economy. Oldham Ahead believes that given the comparative sizes of Virginia’s and Kentucky’s agriculture industries, a similar study in Kentucky would reveal an even larger  Kentucky impact than Virginia’s.  Comparative data is provided in the chart to your right. The study reveals: -  The total agriculture and forestry related industry output in 2006 was almost $79 billion -  The total impact of agriculture-related industries was over $55 billion in total industry output and approximately 357,100 jobs -  The total employment impact is approximately 501,500 jobs, which makes up 10.3 percent of VA state employment -  Every job created in agriculture and forestry related industries results in another 1.5 jobs in the Virginia economy -  Every dollar generated in value-added results in another $1.75 value-added in the VA economy

Download the full impact study  Download the study in brief  Download a September 15, 2008 USDA Economic Research Service Fact Sheet:  Kentucky State Agriculture Fact Sheet Virginia State Agriculture Fact Sheet

New Update Highlights Oldham County Demographic and Economic Data

We have updated key Oldham County demographic, economic, housing, and agricultural data in a new presentation.

Download it now to see how Oldham County from a statistical point of view

Oldham Ahead Member Named to PACE Board

Nina Bonnie has been appointee by Governor Steve Beshear to serve as the 4th Congressional District
representative to the Kentucky Purchase of Agricultural Easements (PACE) Program

Federal Tax Incentives for Land Conservation

2007 Oldham County Population Estimates Released March 20, 2008:
Population as of July 1, 2007 Nearly 56,000

The Census Bureau released the 2007 County Population Estimates on March 20, 2008.  The estimated county population as of July 1, 2007 was 55,935.  Since the 2000 census, Oldham County has realized a gain of 9,757 people for an overall 21.1 percent increase.  The increase since July 1, 2000 (from which yearly estimate data are computed) is an estimated 8,954.  The data indicate that Oldham County is the 5th fastest growing county in Kentucky since the 2000 census in the percentage increase of population (21.1 percent) and is 8^th in net numeric increase (9,757 persons).              

Download and read our Fact Sheet