Woodford: safe, welcoming place for all children
Editor, The Sun:
I feel compelled to speak out against some ugliness I’m seeing in our community, and beyond, when it comes to kids who are transgender. There seems to be a movement, however small and disjointed, to target trans children, to keep them out of spaces, to control where and how they are allowed to exist. This is also going on in Frankfort, with legislation that’s squelching the rights of one group of people to protect the “values” of others. This is concerning on many levels, not only because it’s a divisive attack on human rights, but moreover because the group being targeted has an alarmingly high suicide rate. Instead of creating solutions for problems that don’t exist, let’s address the fact that these kids are literally killing themselves to get out of a world they feel doesn’t understand them and doesn’t care. That’s a problem worthy of our anger and passion and advocacy. I would do anything for my children, but I will also fight for yours because that’s our job as adults, educators, community leaders and elected officials. So, I ask our community to please look past the hate created by a few, put politics aside, dig deep into your heart and your faith and make a conscious choice to stand up for children who are vulnerable and hurting. Advocate for them, not against them, and make Woodford County a safe and welcoming place for ALL children.
Stacy Thurman
Midway
Bed & Breakfast doesn’t belong on Elm Street
Editor, The Sun:
Clonpet, LLC applied for conditional use permit to operate a bed and breakfast (B&B) at 170 Elm Street. The application mentioned holding business meetings there. The meetings will be associated with Ashford Stud/Coolmore Stud for whom the owner of 170 Elm Street works. The Board of Adjustments (BOA) approved this application on March 6, 2023.
There are several procedural issues with this “adjustment” to the existing R-1 (residential) zoning:
• The BOA approved the application despite Mr. Ryan not currently living at 170 Elm Street (purchased in October 2022). Zoning Ordinance Article V, Section 507 specifies that there must be a resident present for a B&B to be approved.
• We are not certain what was approved since the BOA struck items during the meeting. The BOA website is about three months behind in posting minutes.
• The City of Versailles is considering adopting a new policy on changes to residential zoning. The 170 Elm Street decision seemed rushed since the proposed policy will not allow B&Bs in R-1 zones. Notification of the BOA action was only sent to adjacent neighbors and a sign was not posted on the property.
• The City Council met on March 7 – the next day – to discuss the proposed new planning policy on B&Bs.
• The BOA chair indicated that it did not matter what policy changes were coming, they could only deal with the law as it now stands.
Elm Street is a historical street that is an asset to Versailles and should be preserved and protected.
• Historic Elm Street is one of the oldest streets in Versailles. It has had homes on it for at least 125 years and has a neighborhood association for the past 25 years. We have observed that absentee owners are not committed to the neighborhood and are indifferent about maintenance.
• A proposed business was not -approved three years ago on Elm Street so there is a precedent for not approving businesses in this residential area. We think that businesses will damage the character of our neighborhood.
• The rationale the BOA gave, for the decision, was that the new B&B would serve tourism, the horse industry (?) and bring in additional tax money. The historic nature of Elm Street was not discussed other than stating that there were B&Bs on Montgomery and Rose Hill.
Rob Bostrom
Laura Bostrom
Versailles