Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 115, No. 11	March 12 , 2008

Bounced
County deals military buffer zone death blow

By LARRY SEE JR
Messenger Staff

Meade County’s proposed comprehensive plan, a guide to the area’s future growth and development, won’t discourage residential development within one mile of Fort Knox, steering committee members informally agreed last week.

In the revised plan, which arose following meetings between HNTB, planning and zoning administrator Barbara Campbell and Fort Knox officials, the revised draft language was inserted.

“In addition to discouraging development within one mile,” the draft document read, “developers proposing projects and prospective buyers and sellers within one and one half miles of the military reservation should be required to acknowledge in writing their awareness of the potential for impacts associated with any current and future operations at the base.”

The statement indicates military training operations may generate noise, dust, vibrations and smoke, along with the fact training may occur anytime during the day and year.

County Judge Executive Harry Craycroft displayed a map indicating three sections of Meade County are near Fort Knox, with one comprising the Van Borst Housing Project.

“You don’t see them taking that out,” Craycroft said. “It seems they are trying to tell Meade County and our people what they can do with their property. That is just my feelings and from talking to the Fiscal Court.”

Craycroft indicated the only plan which Fiscal Court members would likely endorse would be without the buffer designations.

“The plan with the Fort Knox (designations) will not pass, but if you take the restrictions out, then we should have no problems,” he said.

“The one mile is not by the roads, but by the air,” Craycroft said. “It could go as far as Hobbs Reesor Road and Rabbit Run Road. It also could go to Watts Road and if this goes in there the value of the land is shot. The mile and a half zone is real close to Garrett.”

Craycroft appreciated the viewpoint of Fort Knox officials, but said he was elected to protect county residents.

“I’m not fighting Fort Knox,” Craycroft said. “I’m fighting for the people in Meade County. I will stand here and fight for them by golly until the end. This is your land and you should be able to use it. We don’t tell Fort Knox what to do.”

“The planning commission came out with a plan on Dec. 18 and there was no mention of a buffer zone,” Craycroft said. “Or anything as far as Fort Knox was concerned.”

“In this context, 7,565 acres are involved,” Craycroft said. “In essence Fort Knox is trying to limit us as to what we can do with it. The per acre cost is $2,200 per Fort Knox estimates and between $4,500 and $5,000

per the county property valuation administrator’s estimates. And some of the property would be worth more if they sell it.”

Craycroft said that is the most valuable property. “You can’t tell me if I want to sell my property for $1 million you’re going to put restrictions on my farm making it worth $150,000,” Craycroft said. “You’ll have taken the value of the land and shot it to heck. I think if they’re interested in a buffer zone, they should take it on their side.”

Craycroft referenced materials he received from Fort Knox, supplied to him by Campbell, which caused Chamber of Commerce executive director Russ Powell to express concerns.

“I called the zoning office about a week ago and they said they had not received anything,” Powell said.

“In reference to the fact this is a steering committee meeting, we would appreciate having the information in our hands. In this case we have not had an opportunity to look at it, examine or consider it or form an opinion on it and that concerns me,” Powell said.

HNTB representative Tom West said the buffer zone arose as the comprehensive plan was concluded, with the issue raised at the last steering committee meeting prior to forwarding the document to the planning commission.

Members allowed HNTB and zoning staff to meet with Fort Knox to allay their concerns.

West said the land needed to be protected for the future. He added there needed to be a document to protect the buyer and seller, indicating they were close to a military base and the problems which could arise.

“We discussed this and brought it to the planning commission and that’s all our involvement. This was nothing more than to protect the folks in Meade County and that’s who the plan belongs to,” he said.

“You can’t develop all of the acreage,” he continued. “It’s not

developable. The plan discourages high density development , but said if development does occur it should be low density.” “I can’t imagine the steering committee and the magistrates will not want to hear how the people are going to be affected by this,” resident Cynthia Green said.

West said there will be a public hearing, during the planning commission meeting at 7 p.m. March 20 in the courthouse, at which time all comments will be entered into the record. The commission is expected to make a recommendation that evening to Fiscal Court.

“The steering committee doesn’t adopt anything,” he said. The planning commission adopted some language and the judge raised some concerns and we had another meeting scheduled with Fort Knox.”

Joseph Yates, the chief of the environmental support branch, which is part of the environmental management division at Fort Knox said his agency partners with surrounding counties, especially in their comprehensive plan development.

“We just finished working with Hardin and will start with Bullitt and worked with the City of Radcliff,” he said. “With Meade County we were not involved in the process. We heard you were doing the comprehensive plan and asked if we could have input.”

“We’re not trying to dictate,” Yates said. “That is not our purpose. We want to ask folks to help this process and sustain the mission of Fort Knox. We want to sustain that mission for at least two more generations of soldiers. We would like to do that and make an effort to do that.”

Yates said the county’s eastern portion is the fort’s largest maneuver area, adding a lot of ammunition and tank activity occurs there.

He expressed concerns about safety, indicating the buffer zone would assist.

Deputy Garrison Manager Emmet Holley reiterated fort officials weren’t dictating anything, but instead seeking assistance.

Officials conducted a Military Value Evaluation at Fort Knox, which resulted in the post being ranked 14th in the country. One of the factors officials considered during this review was encroacchment surrounding the base, but it was a small factor of many being reviewed.

“In the next round, and there will be another Base Realignment and Closure round, the same evaluation will occur and we want to be able to tell the good news.”

Holley said officials want to work with the local community and don’t receive a lot of complaints from county residents.

“The folks here are used to it, but when the next 1,000 or so come they might not be used to it,” he said. “You need to be considerate of the importance of the mission of Fort Knox. A lot of folks work at Fort Knox and we get hundreds of them arriving there daily and we want to continue to have that economic impact on the area. One thing is it won’t be as valued if you don’t do a good plan.”

Powell asked where the revised Joint Land Use Plan study was in the process, causing Holley to respond that wasn’t a military operation, but under the auspices of Lincoln Trail.

In response to another question, Holley said Fort Knox consists of 109,000 acres, of which 8,000 consist of the “town” and the remainder are training.

Doe Valley resident Martin Powers questioned what the safety zone perimeters were on Fort Knox side, an answer officials couldn’t provide immediately.

“It seems to me Fort Knox should consider an adequate buffer on their side,” he said. “It would be nice to know what Fort Knox considers the safety zone on their side.”

Fort Knox officials, as of Friday afternoon were still working on answering the question.

It was reported that the safety zone varies. For instance, it would be miles when around a range, but a few yards around a housing complex.

Holley’s staff was working on securing a definitive answer for the question.

Powers urged a public hearing for all county property owners. “I was not notified of this except through the local paper. No one notified me of this from the committee,” he said.

Powers said he was not anti-Fort Knox, but indicated property owners have certain rights. He added further BRAC changes might be decided by Congressional officials, but reiterated property owners have rights and challenged military officials to think about property owners’ rights.

“I understand your position and I’m not arguing against your position,” Holley said.

Magistrate Tony Staples suggested removing the buffer zone and dealing with any other resulting issues later.

“Otherwise we’re going to sit here all night and not get anything done,” he said. “But that’s just my opinion.” His comments were greeted with applause.

Powell expressed concerns about the entire process, adding he thought it was handled poorly.

Officials discussed the state’s planning and zoning statutes and their effect on the document. Powell couldn’t locate a state interpretation, causing West to indicate he didn’t think there was one as it was recently adopted. There is also no specific mention of a buffer zone in the statute.

West said the planning commission wasn’t required to notify landowners of the public hearing. It was suggested rather than placing a small legal notice the commission place a large ad to generate better attendance.

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