The Henderson City Commission has begun the process of creating an ordinance for tiny homes.
At Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting, City Attorney Dawn Kelsey told the commission that Kentucky is grappling with a shortage of affordable homes. Kentucky legislators have created the Kentucky Housing Task Force—of which Henderson state Sen. Robby Mills is the co-chair—to look for ways to bring more housing that is more reasonably priced, Kelsey said.
One of the areas the task force is looking at are tiny homes, and currently the city has no ordinance for tiny homes, she said, adding that Codes Administrator Steve Davis has been receiving requests to construct them.
Kelsey also added that this is the city’s first look at alternative housing options, but said she’s sure the city will look at other alternative housing possibilities in the future.
The proposed ordinance permits tiny homes in the planned unit development district, manufactured home district and the residential subdivided home district. They are also proposed for the residential medium to high density district and Audubon residential district with a conditional use permit.
A tiny home is defined as a single-family living unit and size of 120 to 800 square feet, according to the proposal. Additional requirements are that it’s built on a permanent foundation, has independent living facilities for permanent occupancy and is subject to the same utility and permitting requirements as other single-family dwellings.
A city zoning ordinance is most often originated in the city commission, and then sent to the Henderson City-County Planning Commission to hold a public hearing and then vote on a recommendation to send back to the city commission. The city commission gave its approval to send the proposal to the planning commission, which will hold a public hearing and vote at its Oct. 7 meeting.
Once the planning commission sends its recommendation back, the city commission will need to hear two readings.
In other news:
- The city commission approved the purchase of a new Computer Aided Dispatch system for Henderson 911 Communications. The total cost of the system, from 10-8 Systems Solutions, is $248,505, but more than half of that is covered by a Kentucky 911 Services Board grant totaling $130,000 that the local dispatch applied for and received, said 911 Director Jordan Webb. Per an agreement with Henderson County Fiscal Court, the remaining money is to be paid by a 75/25 split. The city agreed to pay 75% at $88,878.75 during Tuesday’s meeting. Earlier in the day, the fiscal court agreed to pay 25% at $29,626.25.
- The city commission approved a memorandum of understanding between the city and Henderson County Schools in which the city will provided a Henderson Fire Department pumper for use in the new fire safety pathway classes at Henderson County High School. The city will provided general maintenance, but the pumper will not be maintained to the level needed to be used at emergencies, according to a city document. HCS will be responsible for storing the pumper, according to the document. HFD Chief Josh Dixon said the pumper will strictly be used in training with the pathway. He said students will be able to train in hose deployment, hose loads, ladder training, nozzles training and flowing water. He said that it won’t be used to fight fires.
- Newly hired city employees were introduced. They are Kevin Capps, HWU Geospacial Technician for the Henderson Water Utility and Morgan Cunningham, Secretary Senior for the Parks & Recreation Department.
- The city commission approved the re-appointment of Chad Phillips to the Civil Service Commission for a 3-year term.
- The city commission approved the re-appointments of Bill Dixon and Tim Skinner to the Code Enforcement Board for 3-year terms.
- The city commission approved the appointment of Curt Hamilton to the Henderson City-County Planning Commission for a 4-year term. He is replacing X.R. Royster.
