The Boone County Fiscal Court is charting its course of action on regulating issues arising from commercial truck parking and staging.
Throughout April, the legislative body discussed whether to alter or create a new definition of commercial parking within the Boone County Zoning Code to help alleviate commercial truck parking issues brought on by increased cargo movement along Interstate-75 and near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
During an April 22 meeting, Boone County Zoning Administrator Michael Schwartz said the county was updating its comprehensive plan — a land use guide that provides a vision and framework for development throughout unincorporated Boone County and the cities of Florence, Union and Walton.
Upon adopting the updated comprehensive plan, which is slated to happen in 2025, the planning commission and fiscal court would focus on improving the county’s zoning code, which could include altering its commercial parking definition. According to Schwartz, that process would start three to six months after the comprehensive plan’s adoption.
Currently, the county’s zoning code defines commercial parking as facilities intended or used for the temporary off-street parking of operable motor vehicles other than accessory to a principal use.
Commissioner Chet Hand and Jesse Brewer favored the creation of a new zoning classification for commercial truck parking and staging.
The discussion picked back up during a caucus meeting on May 14, during which Schwartz, the fiscal court and county staff sought to reach a consensus about the proper course of action.
“Over the past several months, the court has had a number of different ideas about how to proceed and how best to address the issues identified with temporary parking and staging,” Boone County Administrator Matthew Webster said. “I don’t believe staff felt we left the discussion at a point with clear direction.”
Schwartz said he didn’t believe creating a new zoning classification was necessary. Instead, he suggested that the county modify existing zoning classifications, such as warehousing and distribution.
“My thinking is not to have a new zoning district, but to modify and create proper definitions and create a new use category to better distinguish between truck stop, commercial parking and this other entity, and then identify where this other entity is appropriate as a permitted use or appropriate as a conditional use,” said Schwartz.
Commissioner Chet Hand acknowledged the efficacy of Schwartz’s suggestion but noted that it was important to him that the fiscal court retain decision-making power. If truck parking required a conditional use permit, the Boone County Board of Adjustment would grant it.
“It sounds like we could theoretically get there with requiring a zoning map amendment, with a dedicated zone, and we could potentially get there with a conditional use, with better definitions in the existing zoning,” Hand said. “So it sounds like we have multiple paths forward. Is the question not just who makes the decision?”
Commissioner Jesse Brewer asked Schwartz how surrounding jurisdictions, such as Kenton, Campbell and Grant counties, dealt with similar issues in their zoning code, specifically regarding truck parking.
Schwartz said the county is actively studying how other large metropolitan jurisdictions have tailored their zoning codes to address the issue.
“We have already pulled together information, documents, and regulations from Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville metro and Memphis-Shelby County,” he said. “The reason we picked those is they are all warehouse distribution hub cities.”
After more discussion, Judge/Executive Gary Moore suggested that Schwartz start drafting new definitional language for the court to review in the future.
“But for now, I think we pretty much know what the challenge is, I think we know what the need is, and I think we can find some potential solutions,” Moore said.
