Zoning problem in Kentucky county

[JNA]

Headlines:

Kentucky AG's office investigating McCracken County zoning changes
http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/home/ticke...207727361.html

Faces Zoning Allegations
http://wkms.org/post/newberry-faces-zoning-allegations

Fiscal court looks into zoning map controversy
http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/home/ticke...207314851.html

found proof that more than 500 properties had been changed illegally
Judge-Executive ____ has denied an allegation that he requested the changes and blamed the problem on computer errors.

In Kentucky the Judge-Executive is the elected county executive.
McCracken County is in western Kentucky, the bigest city is Paducah.

[Cardinal]

It is hard to believe that they could have so many problems when they abviously have so sophisticated an understanding, and place such high value on planning:

The first thing addressed was the comprehensive plan.
County Attorney Mike Murphy presented an idea that would hire local engineer Doug Moore, who has worked for the county before.
For $50 an hour, Murphy says in four weeks, Moore could have something for the fiscal court to vote on. That would get them back up to date.

[rcgplanner]

4 weeks to update a Comp Plan?! What about public outreach, meetings? If the county messed up this bad I would imagine there would be a lot of people who wanted to make sure the county was doing things right. Sounds sketch as hell. I am assuming they don't have any planning staff.

[Midori]

But they have such pretty maps!

Maybe no one is quite adept at GIS? I could find that plausible.

Also: Kentucky is a Commonwealth?

[dvdneal]

It wasn't a computer. Somone brought in their kids with some new crayons. You know you've always wanted to color that one property from red to yellow.

[Whose Yur Planner]

Kentucky is a Commonwealth?

Yes it is. KY has some great planners, but planning there can be a challenge at times.

[The One]

It is hard to believe that they could have so many problems when they abviously have so sophisticated an understanding, and place such high value on planning:

The first thing addressed was the comprehensive plan.
County Attorney Mike Murphy presented an idea that would hire local engineer Doug Moore, who has worked for the county before.
For $50 an hour, Murphy says in four weeks, Moore could have something for the fiscal court to vote on. That would get them back up to date.

I'll do it in three weeks using a Cardinal template and all for only $65/hour

[mike gurnee]

Headlines:

In Kentucky the Judge-Executive is the elected county executive.
McCracken County is in western Kentucky, the bigest city is Paducah.

From their web page, the assistant Judge-Executive is the zoning administrator...In other words, a political appointee. Paducah has a decent planning staff: they should merge. A local engineer to update the plan? Being raised in KY I am not surprised.

[Plan_F]

...For $50 an hour, Murphy says in four weeks, Moore could have something for the fiscal court to vote on. That would get them back up to date.

They shouldn't need to redo the comprehensive plan in toto. Unless it is unrealistic, the PC simply can re-adpot the existing one, according to KRS 100-197 (1) [part], viz:

At least once every five (5) years, the commission shall amend or readopt the plan elements. It shall not be necessary to conduct a comprehensive review of the research done at the time of the original adoption pursuant to KRS 100.191, when the commission finds that the original research is still valid. The amendment or readoption shall occur only after a public hearing before the planning commission.

The news story had it backwards, B.T.W:

The zoning problems aren't the only things that could affect property owners. It turns out the county's comprehensive plan, which is based on zoning, hasn't been updated since 2002. –WPSD/6 13 May 2013.

Kentucky is also on of those commonwealths/states that require concordance with the comprehensive plan, according to KRS 100.213, viz:

Before any map amendment is granted, the planning commission or the legislative body or fiscal court must find that the map amendment is in agreement with the adopted comprehensive plan, or, in the absence of such a finding, that one (1) or more of the following apply and such finding shall be recorded in the minutes and records of the planning commission or the legislative body or fiscal court:

(a) That the existing zoning classification given to the property is inappropriate and that the proposed zoning classification is appropriate;

(b) That there have been major changes of an economic, physical, or social nature within the area involved which were not anticipated in the adopted comprehensive plan and which have substantially altered the basic character of such area.

With a name like "McCracken," you don't need this kind of problem.