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Pewee Valley Land Use Issues

Hello,

Below, you will find an excerpt from Steve Chaplin's article that appeared in today's "Neighborhood" section of The Courier-Journal, Pewee Valley plans sidewalks.  It is a blatant falsehood to state that Pewee Valley "recently passed a historic-preservation ordinance."  There has never been, and there is not now, a Historic Preservation Ordinance on the books in Pewee Valley!  A FIRST READING of a Historic Ordinance took place during a "Special" City Council meeting that was held on Friday, November 19, 2004.  As we all know, before a vote can take place, a PUBLIC HEARING has to be held, as well as a SECOND READING.  These have not occurred.

Tonia Holbrook, reporter for The Courier-Journal, stated in her 11/23/04 article entitled, Pewee Valley and church agree to mediation of land dispute, "... the City Council won't vote Dec. 6, as planned, on two ordinances relating to historic preservation that might have affected the use of the church's property."

I assure you that Pewee Valley has not recently passed a Historic Preservation Ordinance.  If the council had done so, they would be in direct violation of Circuit Court Judge Rosenblum's orders!  Mediation is to continue at least until the Jan 3 court hearing.  In the meantime, the church has agreed to not proceed with their plans to remove trees on their property, and the city has agreed to not pass ordinances that would effect the church's ability to use their property.

I suggest that Ms. Holbrook and Mr. Chaplin begin communicating with each other.  The issue of any Historic Ordinance being proposed for Pewee Valley is an extremely volatile one.  It is an issue that has divided this community as a whole, and recently has divided Catholics from non-Catholics.  The last thing we need right now is for press coverage to be inaccurate.  I do hope that the Courier-Journal will print a highly-visible correction.  

On a side note, perhaps KIPDA (Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency) should be informed that Pewee Valley has not passed a Historic Preservation Ordinance.  It would appear, on the surface, that they have been mislead, in an attempt to get funds from them.  (Personally, I am not in favor of trading my private property rights for a piddly amount of government handouts, anyway.)

Sincerely,

Sally Tanselle

118 Maple Ave

PO Box 515

Pewee Valley, KY  40056

241-9240

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From Steve Chaplin's 12/8/04 article:

[Judy] Hall said Pewee Valley, which recently passed a historic-preservation ordinance, is in a good position to pursue grants through the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency to help pay for the project.

"There are certain things you have to have to apply for grants and now we have those things," she said. "I know a historic-preservation plan is important. We have a sidewalk plan, and we have cost estimates, and KIPDA was impressed that the city was working on a master-plan concept for the community."

Link to full article:

http://www.courier-journal.com/nabes/2004/12/08/G1-sidewalk1208oc-5298.html

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