A development controversy in Louisville centers on the definition of a conservation subdivision and an environmental threat in the form of an insect known as the emerald ash borer.
James Bruggers reports on a controversy outside Louisville over logging in an area targeted for a conservation subdivision.
"Photographs taken Monday from an airplane show hundreds of logged trees near Floyds Fork on land where developers have been planning to seek approval for a "conservation" subdivision that emphasizes protection of natural areas," according to Bruggers.
Subsequently, city officials "determined that unapproved logging occurred in a zone that's designed to protect Floyds Fork" and ordered the logging to stop.
The area is a hot topic for local planners, after developers "submitted a preliminary application for zoning changes in mid-January on 135 acres of the 448-acre parcel slated for single-family homes. A design map identifies nearly 1,400 lots and an 18-acre commercial area."
The developers purchased the site last fall and entered into a logging contract shortly after. The article quotes developer's attorney saying that the loggers might have gone beyond a simple removal of dead or dying trees under attack by the emerald ash borer. There is also some speculation that the logging might be a threat to the approval fo the pending conservation subdivision.
FULL STORY: City halts logging at Floyds Fork development
Coal Mining in Kentucky, but No Beat Reporters to Cover It
Environmental reporting has been one of the major casualties as newspapers downsize, particularly in places where the in-depth coverage is most needed.
New Development, Open Space Set to Clash in Louisville Again
The Covington by the Park development proposal is back. The developer has revised previously stalled plans for a conservation subdivision on Louisville's eastern edge.
Louisville Creates its First Municipal DOT
The new department will be tasked with speeding up transportation and infrastructure projects.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.
‘Displaced By Design:’ Report Spotlights Gentrification in Black Neighborhoods
A new report finds that roughly 15 percent of U.S. neighborhoods have been impacted by housing cost increases and displacement.
Nevada and Utah Groups Oppose Public Land Sell-Off Plan
A set of last-minute amendments to the budget reconciliation bill open up over half a million acres of federally managed land to sales.
More Than a Park: A Safe Haven for Generations in LA’s Chinatown
Alpine Recreation Center serves as a vital cultural and community hub in Los Angeles' Chinatown, offering a safe, welcoming space for generations of Chinese American residents to gather, connect, and thrive amidst rapid urban change.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions