LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville neighborhood could get a new big box retail center with a grocery store.

What You Need To Know

  • A developer proposed a zone change at Taylorsville and Tucker Station roads 

  • If the Louisville Metro Council approves the rezoning, it will allow a big box grocery store to get built

  • Some who live near the property are concerned if that property is rezoned, others in the neighborhood could be

  • Metro Council tabled the decision until its Thursday, June 20 meeting

A developer proposed a zone change at Taylorsville and Tucker Station roads that could allow for a building with larger square footage.

The Louisville Metro planning and zoning staff recommended to deny the request, and the Metro Council planning and zoning committee voted in favor of an ordinance to deny the request.

Right now, a 20,000-square-foot building is permitted on the property, but what was proposed is more than double that.

Blackacre Conservancy is about 800 feet from the site.

“The plan is very clear on what type of development can occur and what part of the district, and all we're trying to do is make sure that we stick to the plan,” said Donald Wenzel, member of the Blackacre Conservancy's board of directors. 

Wenzel said the site sits under the Tyler Rural Settlement District Neighborhood Plan and the Tyler Town Center Planned Development District, which he said has stricter development rules to protect the area's rural nature.

What was proposed could break the planned development district’s guidelines. The Tucker Station Neighborhood Association’s lawyer said its biggest concern is if the guidelines are changed, it could happen to other sites in the neighborhood.

The issue was discussed briefly at the last Metro Council meeting before Councilman Brent Ackerson, D-26, motioned to table it.

“I think there should be some more consideration when we’re trying for growth, trying for more grocery stores, trying for more competition to get past the confusion and also to see if there’s any more discussions that could be had to come to some agreement on this,” Ackerson said.

Blackacre and the Tucker Station Neighborhood Association want Metro Council to know they do not support rezoning.

“Stick with the historic recommendations of your experts; let's keep the sanctity of our planned development districts and to violate these two plans,” Wenzel said. 

This site sits in Councilman Stuart Benson’s, R-20, district. He has recused himself from commenting on the case since he is a former board member at Blackacre Conservancy.

Councilman Kevin Kramer’s, R-11, district is also affected. He is leading the charge on the council floor to prevent rezoning.  

Metro Council tabled the decision until its meeting Thursday, June 20.

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