By Bob Vlach
Woodford Sun Staff
A request to rezone properties owned by Versailles Baptist Church on East Green and North Locust streets will allow the church to relocate some of its parking in order to construct a new sanctuary, an attorney told the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning Commission on May 14.
“The reason we need those parking areas now is because … we are losing a significant amount of our parking when we build the new sanctuary,” said Phyllis Mattingly, an attorney representing Versailles Baptist Church, who also identified herself as a member of its congregation.
The church, which has been at its current location “in some form or fashion” since 1883, “made a conscious decision as a congregation to stay a downtown church” after moving forward with additions to its facilities in 2003, Mattingly said. Also, she said the church started acquiring nearby properties for its future space needs.
In recent years, “We have had an amazing rate of growth,” Mattingly said, noting both Sunday services “are very well attended, and there are times when we have very little seating.” She said at its present rate of growth, Versailles Baptist will soon run out of space if it does not expand.
No one from the public spoke in opposition to the request seeking to rezone 125, 205, 207, 215 and 239 East Green Street, and 222 North Locust Street from R-4 high-density residential to B-2 central business.
However, commissioners Karen Isberg and Rich Schein shared their concerns about rezoning properties that could potentially offer affordable housing opportunities in a traditional neighborhood.
While not disagreeing with the need for affordable housing, Commissioner Chris Sharp noted land prices here are not conducive for affordable housing, and the lots being rezoned have been used for parking for years. Also, the parking lots being proposed with the zone change will be improved with landscaping, he said.
“We want to utilize the property that we’ve purchased to be able to have the space for the growth that we’re having. And it’s a blessing,” said Ken Arrington of Versailles Baptist. He pointed out that the growth in their church is with younger families.
Isberg and Schein voted in opposition to recommending the zone change, which moves to the Versailles City Council for final approval after a 7 to 2 vote by the commission. Prior to the vote, Isberg said the commission should approve the zone change for 125 Green Street, where the church is located, but deny the zone change for the other lots.
Planning Director Steve Hunter said a site development plan with specifics about landscaping and drainage for the lots is required after the zone change is approved. He also noted that the B-2 zone will accommodate uses by Versailles Baptist without having to apply for conditional use permits.
Short-term rental on farm
The commission recommended that Woodford Fiscal Court approve rezoning 43.419 acres at 2108 Huntertown Road from rural residential/residual farmland to A-1 agriculture, which will allow applicant Liftoff Equestrian, LLC to use a tenant home on the farm as a short-term rental.
The commission approved a conditional use permit for a short-term rental, which will be issued if the zone change is approved by the Fiscal Court. Conditions of approval include a maximum of four guests (one required to be over 25 years of age) with parking dedicated to the driveway, Hunter told commissioners.
“I’m not a developer. I’m a farmer,” said applicant Justin Watts. “They quit making land a long time ago, and I really value the land in its entirety.” He said if they open a short-term rental, it would provide an additional revenue source because of his farm’s proximity to Keeneland. It would also provide a living space for his clients to stay while they are here, he said.
Hunter said a four-lot rural residential cluster was proposed on an old plat prior to Liftoff Equestrian acquiring the farm for its equine business.
Plats approved
The commission unanimously approved two minor plats.
A subdivision plat (Antony C. Bays and Natalee Johnson-Bays) creates single-family lots at 341 and 343 North Winter Street and 334 First Street in Midway.
A subdivision plat (Bogdan Svintozelsky) creates lots at 4592 and 4604 Fords Mill Road in the R-2 residential district. In April 2025, neighbors opposed a request to rezone 40 acres to small community, which they argued would open the door for developing more than two lots in an area that already has too much traffic on narrow roads and water pressure that is inadequate. The zone change request was withdrawn, Hunter told the commission.
Seasonal building inspector
The commission unanimously approved the contract for a seasonal building inspector. Elizabeth Arrington will work for two weeks in June at a rate of $50 per hour while regular building inspector Josh Stevens is away on National Guard training. The contract, from June 1 to Sept. 30, is for five to 15 hours a week when Stevens is called away by the National Guard.