Shepherdsville Church Prevents Large Development Nearby

A developer has pulled its zoning application from the Bullitt County Fiscal Court just hours before the court was to rule whether it could build a large project near a Shepherdsville church.The fiscal court was to decide on Tuesday night whether Red Rock Developments could build a two-million square foot project near the Bardstown Junction Baptist Church, potentially bringing a few thousand jobs to the area. But the development became controversial after the church and nearby neighbors said they weren’t properly notified of the Joint Planning Commission meeting in June.Around 60 people filled the court room last night only to hear that the developer just hours before notified the court of its decision to withdraw its application. Many at the meeting were confused by what comes next.Church attoney Bruce Simpson said that Red Rock Developments is currently trying to annex the land in the Shepherdsville City Council to bypass the county government. The Courier-Journal has reported that decision has been tabled by the council until a decision was reached Tuesday night. If the developer is unsuccessful with the annex, it can reapply to the county and would start back in the Joint Planning Commission, where the community could present arguments.Simpson said there are two other properties in the county that the developer can consider.When questioned by a member of the public about its decision to withdraw, Red Rock Developments attorney John Wooldridge said: “We at this time, just decided that we wish to withdraw this application. There’s enough controversy. We’ll look at the property, we’ll look at the area, we’ll decide down the road when and if we’re going to come back.”The fiscal court agreed it was in the best interest of the community to begin the process anew if the developer chooses to do so. But the developer may have more resistance in front of the Joint Planning Commission now that the case has gained recognition in the community.