Following months and months of work, officials with the Cadiz-Trigg County Planning Commission moved favorably on two motions Tuesday night — in hopes of finally, and officially, putting an updated zoning map for the City of Cadiz in play for the public.
The first, and most important, was unanimous approval of the newest map draft, which has been reconstructed following guidance, research and scrutiny from Commission Chair Todd Wallace, member Chappell Wilson and the rest of the body.
The second: unanimous approval of light professional edits to the city’s 25-page zoning ordinance.
From there, Wallace outlined a comprehensive outline for the map’s adoption, which legally must include, and in this order:
— A public hearing date set for the drawn lines.
— A published notice of said hearing date, at least 14 days in advance.
— A held public hearing, open for all comments and questions from the populace.
— A presentation of fact-finding and recommendation of approval, in compliance with the Cadiz Comprehensive Plan.
— Another presentation of the map, and accompanying zoning ordinance, to the Cadiz City Council for review and adoption.
— Either they agree to it, or further changes are sought.
— And then the ordinance and map are incorporated, then posted in Main Street’s Cadiz City Hall and Jefferson Street’s Planning Commission Office.
Wallace noted that the 2013-14 map of city zoning was “pure wishful thinking,” for a couple of clear reasons.
Wilson and Wallace both issued that when annexations were done in Cadiz — some of them 20-plus years ago — the annexations were done correctly, but the mapping was never approved for this reason or another.
Because of this, there are few instances where the city boundaries may, or may not, be entirely accurate.
Furthermore, Wallace said while city zoning ordinances are sufficient enough for industrial and residential development in Cadiz, the document itself could be more comprehensive and in line with other communities in south western Kentucky. Communities like Murray and Hopkinsville.
In other planning news:
— Wallace confirmed another cell tower is on the way for Trigg County, but those details would come in the April meeting.
— The commission is well aware of Trigg County Fiscal Court’s recently ratified solar ordinance, which will require any incoming major merchant electric generating facility to first confer with the body for approval.
Wallace said the review fee would be around $2,500, with he and Mike Heffington offering some recent perspective.
— Wallace said a concerned citizen, in the construction business, has also approached the commission about the need for language creating a city/county building license or permitting requirement.
Heffington noted requiring such is good for surety and buyer confidence, but has its drawbacks.
— There’s also at least one opening for the commission, following the resignation of Ken Stallons. Wallace and Ken Culwell noted that Beth Ricks and Donna Clark would be considerations, but a pipeline of young and old citizens needs to be in play in order to diversify the city/county representation.
