What you need to know
- Boone County is considering updating its zoning code to address commercial truck parking.
- Proposed changes would allow truck parking in specific commercial and industrial zones.
- The goal is to reduce roadside parking while supporting the county’s logistics growth.
Commercial truck parking has become a hot topic in Boone County, prompting the fiscal court and planning commission to collaborate on revising the zoning code to address the issue.
Boone County has become an important logistics center for the Greater Cincinnati area, thanks to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Interstate-75. However, the rise in semi-truck traffic created by this economic activity has led to parking issues that impact residents’ quality of life.
“The idea has always been, when I started this five, six years ago–it’s got to be to get the trailers off the road,” Commissioner Cathy Flaig said.
Last December, the Boone County Fiscal Court tasked county staff with reviewing whether to establish a new definition of commercial parking in its zoning code. In April, the discussion picked up again, with the fiscal court and Boone County Planning Commission staff debating the next steps. Ultimately, they approved a motion instructing staff to start the process of updating the zoning code, which the fiscal court would then review.
On Tuesday, Boone County Zoning Administrator Michael Schwartz returned to the fiscal court with updates. Namely, Schwartz said he believed that creating a new zoning district for commercial truck parking was unnecessary.
Schwartz proposed allowing truck parking as a conditional use in Commercial-3 zones and as a permitted use in Industrial-1 and Industrial-2 districts. There is also potential to designate it as a conditional use near airports.
I-1 zones are designated for light industrial activities, including wholesale distribution, warehousing, and the manufacturing, assembly, and processing of materials that generate minimal pollution. In contrast, I-2 zones are reserved for heavy industrial uses, such as large-scale manufacturing and extensive warehousing facilities.
Furthermore, Schwartz stated that county staff drafted definitions for specific asset categories, including freight terminals, freight containers, trucks, semi-trailers, trailers and truck trailers.
“We provided a new definition for trucks and trailers,” Schwartz said. “We provided a new use category named freight terminals, to properly distinguish that from commercial parking and warehouse and distribution and truck stops, we felt that there is no need to create a new zoning district.”
Another important aspect in the deliberations was timing. Similar to the April meeting, Schwartz suggested addressing the issue after the comprehensive plan is adopted. That process is currently underway and is estimated to finish in 2026.
The ultimate aim of the exercise is to eliminate trucks from roadside parking by establishing legal and safe alternatives, giving more flexibility to accommodate the trucking industry’s needs. It also strives to reduce the visual clutter of truck parking in nearby areas, balancing industry requirements with visual appeal.
In the end, the fiscal court said it wants to increase truck parking availability without imposing excessive regulations. Additionally, it seeks to establish clear guidelines for where truck parking is permitted in the county, which can be accomplished by updating the zoning code.
Schwartz stated that county staff examined zoning regulations from Chicago, Indianapolis, Greater Louisville and Memphis/Shelby County, TN–all Midwestern freight hubs–to guide the development of the new definitions.
At the end of a lengthy discussion, Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore said the discussion would continue during future fiscal court meetings. No action was taken.
“I think we digest what we’re hearing today, and if the court chooses to move forward,” he said. “We can do that next meeting or a future meeting if it needs some more work.”
If approved down the line, the planning commission would hold a public hearing for community input. Subsequently, the planning commission would take legislative action, which the fiscal court would then follow.