Daviess County Fiscal Court recently held the first reading of an ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on certain categories of group housing and facilities in the county.
County Attorney John Burlew read a series of clauses outlining the intent of the measure, noting that Fiscal Court has received public input expressing concern over the location of some group housing facilities. The ordinance calls for gathering data on these facilities and asks the Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission to review existing zoning ordinances to determine whether changes are needed.
The moratorium would pause applications related to these types of housing facilities for up to one year “unless repealed or extended,” according to the draft ordinance.
Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen said the county’s action mirrors the one recently enacted by the City of Owensboro. The City’s ordinance took immediate effect and halted the processing of new applications for a range of facilities, including residential care homes, clinics, fraternity and sorority houses, dormitories, rehabilitation centers, and transitional housing.
“I just want to say, for the public’s benefit, each of the (county) commissioners, after the City of Owensboro introduced their moratorium, came to me and expressed concern and wondered if we shouldn’t take this action,” Castlen said. “This is pretty much a mirror of what the City of Owensboro passed.”
No vote was taken at the meeting, as the ordinance was presented for first reading only.
The City’s moratorium gained support from local service providers. Harry Pedigo, executive director of the Pitino and St. Benedict’s shelters, said the pause is necessary to allow the system to catch up.
“In recent years, we’ve seen many facilities opening, expanding, or relocating,” Pedigo said. “While their intentions are good, the constant influx of new clients without adequate pathways forward can unintentionally overwhelm the system.”
