The Campbell County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a zone change to expand the Southern Campbell Industrial Park.
The area in question is approximately 33.5 acres at the Southern Campbell Industrial Park, located at Bud Pogue Way, next to Tyson Foods, south of Alexandria. The Campbell County Economic Progress Authority owns the vacant land and requested a zone change from “Rural Residential Estate” to “Industrial One.” A conceptual site plan indicates approximately 20.75 acres of the site is buildable.
The Campbell County Economic Progress Authority is a nonprofit corporation and has existed since 1982. It aids in acquiring, retaining and developing land for industrial and commercial purposes.
An example of something that could go on the site is a 375,000-square-foot building with 562 parking spaces.
The economic progress authority has begun marketing the site, which is intended for an industrial tenant. If a tenant is identified, they will come before the planning commission with plans for approval. The site preparation is set to begin this year and continue through 2027.
“Campbell County needs employment places,” Campbell County Planning and Zoning Commissioner Justin Verst said. “It is rare to find a site right off a major highway that has all the utilities; it seems like out of all the properties in Campbell County, this is best set up for it.”
The nearly $2 million in Kentucky Product Development Initiative, also known as KPDI, funding for the project will support the site development. The KPDI program financially supports upgrading infrastructure on industrial sites throughout the state.
The Campbell County Fiscal Court and the Campbell County Economic Progress Authority will assist with developing the site.
The zone map amendment request concerns the 33.5 acres plus five adjacent acres owned by the economic progress authority.
The price is $49,900 to $59,900 per acre but is flexible.
Part of the staff recommendation to approve the development is it complies with the 2008 Campbell County & Municipal Comprehensive Plan, which identifies the future land as mixed office/industrial. The staff recommendation also points to the goals and objectives updated in 2016, highlighting the importance of a growing business community.
The site is adjacent to US 27 and within “a strong regional transportation network,” according to the county.
Subsequent plans will require stormwater management and erosion control measures. The concept plan does indicate notable areas for stormwater management. The site is within the urban service boundary for stormwater management.
President of Campbell County Economic Progress Authority Justin Otto said this project has been about 10 years in the making.
“This has been a project where we’ve had several if not 50, partners to make this happen over almost a decade,” Otto said.
At the most recent Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting, Campbell County Commissioner Brian Painter said the county will benefit from this site.
“There are about 500 people who work at Tyson, and that is a value-added facility to our culture,” Painter said. “And it’s one of the bigger employers in Campbell County—it might be our biggest private employer. This is a monumental moment in time where we’re going to see good things happen in the middle part of the county because it’s not really that far south. It’s the middle part of our county, and our culture will benefit from having some additional manufacturing there.”
The recommendation by the planning commission will go before the Campbell County Fiscal Court for approval.