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
Brownsboro Area Master Plan Development
The Oldham County Planning and Zoning office initiated plans to begin Oldham County's first of eight area master plans, called for in Oldham County's 2002 Comprehensive Plan--Outlook 2020. The Brownsboro Planning Area is the first planning area to undergo area master planning. The purpose of the process is to prepare a plan to guide the future of the Brownsboro Planning Area.
The Brownsboro Planning Area is defined in the Oldham County Comprehensive Plan and is generally bound by U.S. Highway 42 to the North; Interstate 71 to the South; Jefferson County to the West; and the Buckner area to the East. Click here to view an aerial map of the study area.
As a result of several public meetings, the Vision Statement for the Brownsboro Area Master Plan has emerged:
Download the Mission Statement
Planning and Zoning Staff Hosts Open House of October 30, 2006
The Oldham County Planning and Zoning Office organized and held a well attended open house on October 30 for Oldham County officials and citizens to review the progress to date of the Brownsboro Area Master Planning process. The staff prepared 25 display boards depicting Brownsboro Area existing condition, the planning process, and goals, historic and scenic sites, and more. The informational boards yielded meaningful discussions and comments from the open house participants. Judge/Executive Mary Ellen Kinser welcomed the citizens and officials and introduced the Planning and Zoning staff. The Oldham County Fiscal Court Magistrates that represent the Brownsboro area and several planning commissioners were among the officials attending the open house.
Planning and Zoning Planner Emily Liu and Bob Jones review existing zoning map
Involved citizens chat and review the professional charts prepared by the P&Z Staff
Magistrate Bob Diebel (left) talks with Brownsboro residents while enjoying food and drinks donated by Todd Simmons of HardiBoard and a resident and developer of Brownsboro
Between 60-80 residents took the time to attend the Open House and review the planning maps and displays
With the completion and presentation of the existing conditions inventory, the planning staff is now working on the analysis section of the master plan. The staff will prepare analyses that provides Brownsboro residents and their elected officials with a meaningful interpretation of the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the Brownsboro area community. The staff, in conjunction with the Brownsboro Area Master Plan Task Force will develop alternatives and options that will be considered for the recommendations contained in the final document that will go before the Planning Commission and Legislative Bodies for consideration and adoption.
The Brownsboro Area Master Plan Task Force, comprising Brownsboro citizens, magistrates, Planning and Zoning Commissioners, developers, realtors, representatives from Oldham Ahead and the Brownsboro Conservation Council developed the following goals to support the vision statement that emerged from public meetings this summer:
Below, in .pdf format, are the majority of the displays prepared for the open house. Click on the applicable display title to review and download the display.
Aerial Photograph of the Brownsboro Area
Agricultural Districts, Easements and Open Space
Brownsboro Master Planning Process Flow Chart
Brownsboro Parcel Categories by Size
The Story of Brownsboro--an Historical Overview
Transportation: Existing Conditions
Very Steep Slopes Exceeding 30 Degrees
Visual Preference Survey Results
Presentations and Handouts from Previous Brownsboro Area Master Plan Meetings
Oldham Ahead demographic update on Oldham County presented during the June 19 meeting
Brownsboro Area Natural Resources presentation by Kurt Mason, presented during the September 15 Task Force Meeting
Brownsboro Area Prime Farmland Soils
Brownsboro Area Agricultural Districts and Conservation Easements
Click here to view and download an Oldham Ahead demographic update on Oldham County presented during the June 19 meeting.