By Gage Wilson
For Glasgow News 1
After weeks of debate and a recently dismissed lawsuit, the Glasgow City Council voted 5-3 Monday evening to approve a rezoning ordinance that opens the door for a proposed affordable senior housing development on West Washington Street.
Council members Freddie Norris, Randy Wilkinson and Marna Kirkpatrick voted against the ordinance, while Councilwoman Elizabeth Shoemaker was absent.
The ordinance changes the zoning of approximately 2.94 acres at 318 W. Washington St. from medium-density residential and office-professional classifications to R-4, a medium-density multifamily residential district.
The property, owned by Barren County Fiscal Court, is the site of the former Barren County Health Department. The Hero Foundation, in partnership with Wabuck Development, has proposed Highland Heights, a three-story development containing 75 one-bedroom apartments for senior citizens.
The Joint City-County Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the rezoning Aug. 17, but the council tabled the ordinance during its Oct. 12 meeting while litigation involving the property remained pending.
That lawsuit was dismissed Oct. 19 after Barren County Circuit Judge John Alexander determined the court lacked jurisdiction because Barren County Fiscal Court had not been named as a defendant. The ruling did not address the residents’ objections to the rezoning itself.
Monday’s discussion began with City Attorney Rich Alexander addressing questions about the ordinance returning to the council for a second reading despite being tabled at the previous meeting.
Councilman Terry Bunnell moved to bring the ordinance back before the council following the conclusion of the litigation.
“For the record my motion includes bringing the rezoning ordinance of Oct. 12 off the table for tonight’s agenda since the litigation that was pending has now concluded,” Bunnell said.
Alexander explained that while Glasgow City Council has traditionally taken a voice vote following the first reading of an ordinance, Kentucky law does not require one.
“There is no state law nor is there any city ordinance requiring such a vote to be taken after first reading, the only vote that is required is after the second reading,” Alexander said.
Councilman Joe Trigg, the only member voting in favor of the ordinance to speak in its support, criticized the council’s earlier decision to table the matter, suggesting members owed the Joint City-County Planning Commission an apology for delaying action on its recommendation.
“We are setting a bad precedent by overriding the body that we established to make these kinds of zoning decisions,” Trigg said.
Trigg also pointed to the county’s ownership of the property, arguing that the county could choose to demolish the existing building.
Drawing comparisons to a previous property dispute involving the historic Bunche Avenue area, Trigg suggested that residents wishing to preserve the West Washington Street property could consider purchasing it themselves.
“I’ll say what was said to the members of the Bunche Historical District, ‘If you don’t want something in your neighborhood then you probably need to buy it.’ We eventually had to buy it at public auction,” Trigg said.
“My advice to the historical district or the members of the community, if they feel as strong as they say they do, then maybe they should get together and go to the county and do whatever they need to to purchase that property,” he added.
Council members opposing the ordinance cited concerns raised by nearby residents, several of whom attended Monday’s meeting.
“It is our job to listen to the citizens,” Kirkpatrick said. “A majority of those that have reached out to me are opposed to moving forward with this ordinance.”
Wilkinson questioned whether the surrounding infrastructure could accommodate a three-story apartment development, pointing specifically to the narrowness of West Washington Street. He also said he understood residents’ objections, adding that he would not want a similar development near his own home.
Questions about traffic had also been raised during the council’s earlier consideration of the ordinance. At the Oct. 12 meeting, planning commission Director Kevin Myatt confirmed that no traffic study had been submitted for the proposed development.
Both Wilkinson and Kirkpatrick suggested that other city-owned properties could serve as potential locations for affordable housing, including land along Veterans Outer Loop and the former Johnson Farm property on Cleveland Avenue.
Wilkinson also questioned whether affordable housing would be a preferable use of the Johnson Farm property than the regional sports complex proposed for a portion of the site.
The city purchased the nearly 162-acre Johnson Farm property in 2024 for future residential, commercial and recreational development. Approximately 15 acres have been designated for the proposed sports complex.
The council’s approval allows the zoning change to move forward, though the vote does not constitute final approval of the proposed apartment development itself.
In other business, municipal orders were issued reappointing Rollin Underwood to the Glasgow Water and Sewer Commission and R.P. Watson to the Code Enforcement Board, both for three-year terms ending Oct. 31, 2029.
Another municipal order appointed Samantha Gibson to the non-elected position of city clerk. Gibson is expected to be sworn in at the council’s next regular meeting on Nov. 9.
Key Facts:
– Glasgow City Council voted 5-3 to approve rezoning on West Washington Street for potential senior housing
– The change affects about 2.94 acres at 318 W. Washington St., the former Barren County Health Department site
– Hero Foundation and Wabuck Development have proposed Highland Heights, a three-story, 75-unit senior apartment complex
– A lawsuit challenging the rezoning process was dismissed Oct. 19 on jurisdictional grounds
– The Joint City-County Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval Aug. 17
– Councilmembers Marna Kirkpatrick, Randy Wilkinson and Freddie Norris opposed the rezoning; Elizabeth Shoemaker was absent
– Opponents cited traffic, infrastructure and historic district concerns; supporters said the city should respect the planning commission
– The rezoning vote does not constitute final approval of the Highland Heights development
