In October 2000, the City of Bardstown and Nelson County Fiscal Court adopted the Commercial Establishments Design Standards Ordinance to ensure that commercial development is compatible with the surrounding area and contributes to the unique community character of Bardstown-Nelson County. The Design Standards Ordinance encourage a more human-scale development that residents may identify, and the resulting scale of commercial developments ensures a greater likelihood of reuse of commercial structures by subsequent tenants. The Design Standards Ordinance is intended as a design aid for developers and as an evaluation tool, in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Regulations and Subdivision Regulations, by the Development Review Board, Planning Commission, and legislative bodies, during the review process.
The Design Standards Ordinance established a 5-member Development Review Board (DRB). Two DRB members are appointed by the Bardstown City Council; two are appointed by Nelson County Fiscal Court; and one member is appointed by the consent of both the City Council and Fiscal Court.
Since 2001, the DRB has reviewed the following projects: Wal-Mart SuperCenter, Murphy Oil, Lowe's Sav-A-Lot and Corvin's additions, Royal Crest retail center, Flaget Memorial Hospital, and Barlow Funeral Home, Church of Latter Day Saints, Windsor Gardens Nursing Home, Five Star Food Mart, and Lance Center.
Meeting Date, Time, Location
The DRB meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 11:00 AM in the Fiscal Court room, 2nd Floor, Old courthouse Building, One Court Square, Bardstown (see Deadlines & Meetings). All meetings are public meetings and open to the public.
DRB Members
- Richard Nest, Nelson County
- Wes Parrish, City of Bardstown, Vice-Chair
- Edward Seay, City of Bardstown
- Rick McKay, Nelson County
- Todd Johnson, City-County