Updating Kenton County's ordinance involved a two-phase initiative that reviewed and assessed the zoning ordinances for eleven cities/towns as well as unincorporated Kenton County. Ordinances were reviewed with respect to community and staff concerns, broader planning and zoning trends, and their recently completed comprehensive plan.
REA, in partnership with Orion Planning + Design, was hired to access the two-phase Z21: Zoning for the 21st Century initiative for Kenton County, Kentucky. The first phase of the project involved review and assessment of the zoning ordinances for eleven cities/towns as well as unincorporated Kenton County. Ordinances were reviewed with respect to community and staff concerns, broader planning and zoning trends, and the recently completed Direction 2030: Your Voice. Your Choice. Comprehensive Plan.
The assessment process included extensive engagement with community representatives, elected officials, planning staff, and the Kenton County Plan Commission. A survey was conducted to better understand how each community utilizes their respective ordinance and any issues they may have with it. Individual meetings and site tours were conducted with each participating jurisdiction and a project task force was organized to meet throughout the process. Process outcomes focused on creating more user-friendly, graphic, and modern development codes.
Following completion of Phase 1, the team was retained to create a new zoning blueprint (template ordinance) so that each jurisdiction could develop a modern zoning ordinance that addresses individual needs, but is also coordinated with other Kenton County municipalities. The blueprint refined 120 districts into approximately twenty-five, developed design/character standards, landscape standards, signage, environmental standards, sexual oriented businesses, among standard articles.