A prominent member of Louisville’s Board of Zoning Adjustment and Planning Commission has resigned his positions.
David Proffitt confirmed Tuesday that he is leaving his roles as chairman of BOZA and vice-chairman of the planning commission. The two agencies make decisions on new developments in the city.
“It’s personal and work-related, but it has nothing to do with Develop Louisville or the city,” he said. “No one forced my hand, so to speak. I just don’t think I’m going to give the effort that’s needed for both positions. It’s starting to affect my concentration on my job, and so on and so forth.”
In the past few months, several ongoing and high-profile cases have come before the Board of Zoning Adjustment. The board has been considering a conditional use permit for pork processor JBS Swift to use a Butchertown parking lot as a truck staging area for months. That case keeps getting continued from meeting to meeting.
And next month, BOZA is set to decide whether Indiana-based company STAR BioEnergy can build a biodigester next to the Heaven Hill distillery in West Louisville. The board heard the case last month in a meeting that stretched past 2 a.m.
“That was the day I actually decided I was going to resign, but it had nothing to do with the biodigester,” Proffitt said.
Proffitt’s resignation as BOZA chairman is effective Jan. 11, after he participates in another Swift hearing. His resignation as Planning Commission vice-chairman is effective Jan. 14.
The next BOZA hearing on the biodigester, which could determine whether those plans go forward, is scheduled for Jan. 21.
Chris Poynter, a spokesman for Mayor Greg Fischer, said Proffitt would be replaced as soon as possible.