As Mayor Laura Dake said two weeks ago, the Versailles City Council took up the zone change from B-2 (two family residential) to B-4 (highway business district) on Locust Street and Lexington Road sought by longtime Versailles businessman Goldie Singh.
At its last meeting on Oct. 20, Councilmember Fred Siegelman attempted to bypass the normal council process and decide the issue, moving the council to approve the request.
His attempt failed to gain traction and died for want of a second, which then allowed councilmembers two weeks to review the record from the hearing held by the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning Commission when it approved the request.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the council voted to accept the Commission’s record and not hold its own hearing. At that point, Councilmember Lisa Johnson moved for the approval of the zone request with some minor changes from what the Commission had approved.
Johnson said she had spoken with Singh and he agreed to the changes, which included: approval of the Architectural Review Board on various exterior parts of the new structure given it abuts both a historic and residential area; lighting with downward beams to reduce light pollution, and that the lighting must be turned off 30 minutes after the store closes; that a vape shop could not be opened in the new facility; that it include a 10-foot-wide landscape buffer; and that it have one entrance off Lexington Road and one off Locust Street.
Following the City Council’s unanimous vote, Johnson said, “We are fortunate to have a well-loved businessman and community member as Goldie, as evidenced by the petition we were sent that had 380 signatures!”
The council chamber was packed and standing room only with approximately 25 Versailles residents and supporters of Singh. Though they did not seek to speak during public comment, there were loud cheers following the City Council’s vote.
Following the meeting, Singh said the next step is to file a consolidated plat with the Commission, and if all goes well, construction could begin in the fall. He said he hopes to have the new gas station/food mart open sometime in 2027. During the construction, the store will remain open, but the gasoline service will be shut down for a new state-of-the-art tank and pump system to be installed for a few months.
“I feel very proud to be a part of this community. I feel welcome in this community,” he said. “It just . . . I don’t have the words, I can’t explain how happy I am to have this support.”
Old Kroger update
Mike Hall, one of the principals of the group that has leased the troubled old Kroger building on Lexington Road, updated the council on the work that has been ongoing, the lease plans and a general timeline to open its doors.
Hall said he has spent $156,000 to date on a variety of needed repairs – fixing the roof to stop leaks, plumbing for bathrooms, electrical “make safe” work, and removing debris and old material that, he estimated, had been left in the building since Kroger vacated over 10 years ago.
He said the group had been in discussions and negotiations with a variety of tenants, and though he could not divulge their identities yet, “I live here, and I think they would all serve Versailles well.”
He indicated that the final fit-up of leased space will depend on the needs of a particular tenant. He said final lease agreements had already been negotiated with some tenants, but that final approvals were pending, and he expected to be able to announce some tenants in December.
Johnson asked if the agreement to dedicate some portion of the building to a family fun type business was still in the plan, and Hall said it was. He said they are looking at options such as roller skating or some sports-related activity like indoor soccer.
Paddock Place extension emergency
Public Works Director Bart Miller asked the council to approve an emergency expenditure of $227,813 for work to complete the Paddock Road extension. City Attorney Bill Moore explained this was needed because of changes and delays in grant money from the federal government, which means it will not be available in time to complete the job. And, he said, if it is not done now while asphalt is still available, then the city risks more costs and failing to complete the extension as required.
Councilmembers Gary Jones and Fred Siegelman sought more clarity on the problems which led up to the need for an emergency declaration. Jones, in particular, obtained Moore and Miller’s confirmation that though the city would essentially “front the costs,” the grant monies would still be received. Moore clarified that the money would come in, but it would need to be applied to a different project under federal regulations.
With the explanations, council voted unanimously to approve the declaration and spend the funds to complete the project.
Russelltown lights
At the Oct. 20 council meeting, there was, at times, strident debate between Siegelman and Councilmember Chantel Bingham over the need to fix street lights at Russelltown.
Since then, Bingham told the council that the matter was discussed in committee, and a request had been made to Kentucky Utilities to replace the bulbs at the three light poles Bingham had identified previously.
Versailles Police Chief Rob Young said that officers had confirmed the lights had been fixed and were working.