The Frankfort/Franklin County Planning Departments have dedicated the past two years to developing the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan). Recently, the Planning Commission approved the first section of the plan: The Goals & Policies. We have now reached a critical juncture where the next step involves reviewing the Future Land Use Map. Acknowledging the significance of this document in guiding and reshaping the trajectory of growth for the next 20 to 30 years, there are compelling factors supporting industrial growth. These factors underscore the importance of designating additional areas for industrial development.
Mr. Rich Rosen, a KCDC board member, has repeatedly emphasized that given the considerable expenses associated with addressing the numerous unmet needs in our community, fostering growth remains the most viable solution for the city and county. Specifically, he highlights the average annual wage of industrial jobs at $62,000 and the estimated $52,000 annual salary of indirect jobs created by such industries, along with comprehensive benefits such as healthcare and paid time off underscore the advantages of industrial growth.
According to the US Census Bureau, the population of Franklin County has only experienced a minimal growth rate of 0.4% from 2010 to 2022. It's no surprise that our tax base is under strain. Rosen has outlined a strategy to grow our tax base by identifying the desired rate of population growth and the corresponding amount of industrial land needed to generate employment opportunities. Rosen proposes increasing our population by 1.4% annually over the next 20 to 30 years, a rate that remains below that of surrounding counties. Through various analyses to meet the population growth rate goal, it's estimated that we would need approximately 3500 acres of land for industrial expansion, allowing us to seize our fair share of the projected industrial growth in Central Kentucky.
At the Comp Plan Open House, there were two Future Land Use maps available. One of these maps depicted 600 acres along US 127, proposing a regional industrial park at the border of Franklin County and Anderson County. A $4 million state-funded grant has already been approved for the construction of an industrial park in this area. However, it was later revealed that the Comp Plan Advisory Committee didn’t want this map displayed. This raises the question: Why are county officials willing to forego funds that could facilitate job creation and enable families to provide for themselves? Given its proximity to the I-64 interstate, US 127 presents a promising location for development. The county should consider earmarking this land for industrial growth, potentially designating it as a future regional industrial park.
Another crucial point highlighted by Rosen is the need to designate US 127 for future industrial growth as a preventive measure against encroaching residential subdivisions. It serves as an insurance policy of sorts. Residents typically prefer not to live near industrial parks. By earmarking this area for Industrial Growth, we can offer prospective developers land for the next 20 to 30 years that is distant from residential areas.
In looking at the proposed land use map, the current Industrial Growth category has been divided into two categories: Light Industrial which is intended for warehouses, technology companies and “clean” manufacturing, and Medium/Heavy industrial which is intended for “higher-intensity industrial uses”. The proposed plan designates approximately 300 Light Industrial acres which are predominantly located at Twilight Trail, and approximately 271 Medium/Heavy Industrial acres of which 94 acres are also located at Twilight Trail. This area contains protected streams and would require approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Kentucky Division of Water. Moreover, the land is densely forested, further increasing the expense and time required to prepare it for development. The remaining 177 Medium/Heavy Industrial acres are spread across four different locations.
Even including the 300 acres designated for Light Industrial use alongside the 177 acres for Medium/Heavy Industrial use, a significant portion of this land will be unusable due to setbacks, buffers, topography, and potential stream mitigation requirements. Given the comprehensive plan spans over the next 20+ years, relying on this limited number of industrial acres would fall short in achieving the 1.4% population annual growth rate goal, accommodating sustainable job growth, and generating the necessary revenue to support existing services and provide the amenities desired by residents.
No community should restrict industrial growth like Franklin County is doing. To witness positive changes for our community’s future, elected officials and planners must envision a broader perspective and advocate for a comprehensive plan that encourages much more growth than is currently proposed.
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Mary Palumbo is a long-term resident of Frankfort with a business & marketing background. She can be emailed at Palumbo.963@gmail.com
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