By Bob Vlach
Woodford Sun Staff
An attorney representing the owners of about 300 acres of undeveloped land in the Versailles urban services area sent a letter to Planning Director Steve Hunter sharing his clients’ concerns about remarks made by Hunter during a June 1 Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee meeting.
Hunter informed Comp Plan subcommittee members about the letter during a July 6 subcommittee meeting. “There was a property owner that didn’t like how we characterized a portion of the community. It was more directed at me, which is fine,” he told committee members.
In the letter dated July 2, obtained through an open records request, attorney Steele Rouse wrote, on behalf of the Estate of Josephine H. Barrows, that his clients “were surprised by the remarks concerning one of the Barrows Estate’s properties, specifically a comment by Mr. Hunter that while the property carries a Interchange Commerce and Workforce Development designation (designations on the future land map), you do not believe that is what the community wants. While my clients understand that you bring your own professional perspective to the comprehensive plan review process, they were surprised by those remarks, particularly given that no prior notice was provided to them that the designation of their property would be characterized in that manner in a public forum.”
Hunter acknowledged making a comment about the community not being interested in seeing a lot of growth in the south entry corridor of Versailles. And based on what he’s witnessed at recent zone change hearings and online petitions, “I think I know what this community thinks about development on the south side of Versailles,” he told the committee.
Rouse said his clients are also concerned Hunter’s comments may prejudice the process as the planning commission works to finalize Chapter 5, the land use chapter in an updated Comprehensive Plan.
“What they want to do is be able to come to the Planning Commission at some point in the future and tell you what they think should be on their property as opposed to the Planning Commission, for example, changing the land use map and saying: in this part of town, we’re not going to have this type of growth,” Hunter told subcommittee members. He also alluded to comments in the letter from Rouse, which described the Barrows family as “an active and responsible participant in the growth and development of Versailles for decades. Beginning in 1968, out-conveyances from the original Helm Place farm resulted in a series of residential subdivisions, including Stourbridge, Stourbridge II, Helmsley Estates, The Shire at Helmsley II, each developed incrementally, at a modest pace, in conformance with P&Z regulations, and with careful consideration for neighboring properties and broader community.”
Rouse’s letter was also sent to Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning Commission Chair Whitney Stepp.