- The planning commission unanimously adopted the Our Boone County 2045 Plan on Feb. 18, completing the state-required five-year comprehensive plan update.
- The update followed three years of public engagement led by Community Development Services Director Jenna LeCount and Preservation Planner Bridget Striker.
- The final plan includes seven amendments — four text changes and three map updates — addressing airport land use definitions, residential density adjustments, infrastructure planning at I-275, and property reclassifications in Walton and along US-42.
The Boone County Planning Commission has approved the passage of its updated comprehensive plan.
The plan – titled Our Boone County 2045 Plan – is the update to the county’s comprehensive plan, a document that guides future development and land-use decisions in unincorporated Boone County and the cities of Florence, Walton and Union. Kentucky state law requires the comprehensive plan to be updated every five years, with past updates completed in 2019, 2005 and 2000.
The update was meticulously pieced together over the years, with Boone County Community Development Services Director Jenna LeCount and county Preservation Planner Bridget Striker leading the effort. The duo hosted several public forums over the past three years, gathering input from residents, county officials, and community stakeholders to inform the decision-making process.
The planning commission unanimously approved the comprehensive plan update during a business meeting on Feb. 18. The planning commission is the decision-making body for adopting or updating a comprehensive plan, according to Kentucky state law.
In the aftermath of the public hearing on Jan. 21, LeCount noted that seven proposed text amendments are up for consideration before the final document is passed.
Proposed Text Amendments:
- Added definition for “airport activities” within the land use element to align with the updated land use map.
- Updated language to reflect ongoing development near the intersection of US-42 and Pleasant Valley within the Florence focus area.
- Reduced recommended density for parcels south of US-42 between Dillcrest Drive and Bentley Court from urban density to high suburban density residential.
- Added language recommending an interchange study at the Petersburg interchange of I-275. The study would evaluate transportation and utility infrastructure needs beyond standard land use and zoning considerations.
Proposed Map Amendments:
- Re-designated city-owned property in Walton, currently used as the Dr. Odell Moreno Owens and Family Nature Park, entirely to Recreation, replacing the previous mix of suburban residential, rural lands, business park, and industrial classifications.
- Updated property near 8504 Old Toll Road from suburban residential to industrial to accurately reflect an existing industrial or utility use.
- Parcels along the south side of US 42 between Dillcrest Drive and Bentley Court were redesignated to high suburban density residential, aligning the map with the related text amendment.
“The committee recommended unanimously for adoption of the ‘Our Boone County Plan 2045, Comprehensive Plan Update’ with these seven changes that are articulated in the committee report,” LeCount said.
Planning Commission Chair Charlie Rolfsen thanked the planning commission, LeCount and Striker for their efforts in developing the updated plan.
“Once again, you guys, it’s so much work that goes into this, and I think everybody should be commended for how smoothly it went,” he said.
Residents can view the plan here.