BUILDING A MODERN DEVELOPMENT CODE
Frankfort and Franklin County are working together to update the community’s zoning regulations (“Development Code”) to better reflect local priorities, improve usability, and support the goals of the comprehensive plan Distilled Tomorrow.
Zoning regulations guide how land is used, how buildings are designed, and how development occurs throughout the community. Over time, regulations can become outdated, difficult to navigate, or misaligned with community goals. This project will modernize the zoning regulations into a unified Development Code to increase clarity, predictability, and alignment with the community’s vision for growth and development.
The result will be a modern, user-friendly development code that helps residents, businesses, and decision-makers shape Frankfort and Franklin County’s future.
THE LATEST
February 26, 2026 | Public Open House Held
A public open house was held on February 26, 2026 at the Paul Sawyier Public Library from 5:30 to 7:30p to introduce the Frankfort–Franklin County Development Code Update and gather early input from community members.
The open house provided an opportunity for residents, property owners, business owners, and stakeholders to learn about the project, review key topics related to development regulations, and share feedback with the project team.
Seven informational boards were displayed during the meeting to help explain the purpose of the code update, outline the process, and highlight areas where modernization may be needed.
Open House Presentation PowerPoint
Open House Presentation Boards
- 1. Welcome Board (36 x 48)
- 2. Districts & Map (36 x 48)
- 3. Use Regulations (36 x 48)
- 4. Dimensional & Design (36 x 48)
- 5. Landscaping & Lighting (36 x 48)
- 6. Signage & Parking (36 x 48)
- 7. Riparian Buffers (36 x 48)
February 12, 2026 | Informational Presentation to Planning Commission
An informational overview of the Frankfort–Franklin County Development Code Update was presented to the Planning Commission on February 12, 2026.
The presentation provided Planning Commission members with a briefing on the project’s goals, process, and preliminary topics for consideration. It also highlighted how the Development Code Update aligns with the Distilled Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan and supports community priorities for growth, redevelopment, and quality development standards.
Open House Presentation PowerPoint
Tap Image to Zoom
WHY UPDATE THE DEVELOPMENT CODE?
Development regulations affect nearly every aspect of the built environment, from housing and businesses to streets, parks, and neighborhoods. Updating the code will help the community:
Implement the Distilled Together Comprehensive Plan
Align regulations with the community’s long-term vision for growth, development, and economic opportunity.
Make the Code Easier to Use
Simplifiy regulations, eliminate redundancies, and impose organization so that residents, developers, and staff can easily understand the rules.
Encourage Appropriate Development
Support investment, redevelopment, and new housing opportunities, while maintaining the character of the existing neighborhoods.
Provide Clear and Predictable Standards
Create clear expectations for development proposals, helping reduce uncertainty and streamline the review process.
Improve Coordination Between City and County Regulations
Create a more consistent and coordinated and unified regulatory framework for Frankfort and Franklink County.
DIRECTION AND INTENT OF DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE
KEY TOPICS EXPLORED
As part of the Development Code Update, the project team is reviewing several key topics where the current regulations may benefit from modernization or clarification. These topics were identified through the comprehensive plan Distilled Tomorrow, staff input, and early community discussions.
Housing Options and Neighborhood Compatibility
Review zoning regulations to ensure they support a variety of housing types while maintaining the character and stability of existing neighborhoods.
Mixed-Use and Commercial Areas
Evaluate how zoning districts support commercial development, downtown vitality, and mixed-use areas where housing, retail, and services can exist together.
Infill and Redevelopment
Update regulations to better support redevelopment and infill development in areas with existing infrastructure while ensuring appropriate design and compatibility with surrounding development.
Development and Design Standards
Modernize standards related to building placement, height, setbacks, landscaping, and site design to improve clarity and create predictable development outcomes.
Parking and Site Circulation
Review parking requirements and site circulation standards to ensure they are aligned with current development patterns and community needs.
Subdivision and Street Design
Evaluate subdivision regulations that guide how new streets, blocks, and lots are designed in order to support connectivity, accessibility, and efficient infrastructure.
Clearer Procedures and Administration
Improve development review procedures, approval procedures, and administrative provisions so that the code is easier to understand and apply.
WHAT WILL STAY THE SAME
While the Development Code Update will modernize and clarify regulations, several important aspects of the community’s development framework will remain the same.
The Comprehensive Plan Continue to Guide Development
The updated code will implement the goals and policies established in the Distilled Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan, which was developed with extensive community input.
Existing Neighborhood Character Will Continue to be Respected
The project is focused on improving and clarifying regulations, not to encourage incompatible development in established neighborhoods.
Public Input will Remain an Important Part of the Process
Community engagement will continue throughout the project, and residents will have opportunities to review and provide feedback on draft materials.
Adoption will Occur After Public Review Process
Any updates to the Development Code will go through the required public meetings and adoption procedures before becoming effective.
Engagement Opportunities:
• Visioning Survey and Pop-Up Events
• Public Kick-Off Event
During this phase we will also organize the plan’s critical themes and create the plan’s framework, including the vision statement, goals, and objectives.
Engagement Opportunities:
• Policy Exploration Workshop
• Draft Vision and Goals Survey
The third phase will be focused on drafting the plan recommendations, including the policies and strategies to flesh out the framework by working with the Steering Committee and staff and testing concepts with the public using online surveys. This phase will be primarily dedicated to the creation of a graphically-rich, interactive, multi-platform document that is concise, user-friendly, and relies heavily on the use of annotated maps and graphics. The plan’s structure will be predetermined in
Phase 2.
Engagement Opportunities:
• Planning Commission Endorsement
of Framework
• Draft Plan Content Survey
Engagement Opportunities:
• Plan Review Open House
• Public Hearing
• Adoption Hearing
PROJECT TIMELINE
Code Assessment | FALL 2024
The project team will review the existing regulations to identify outdated provisions, conflicts, and areas where the code does not fully support community goals. Working with City and County leadership, the team will develop an updated regulatory diagnosis framework that reflects the goals of the comprehensive plan and the needs of the community.
Draft Development Code | 2025 – SPRING 2026
A draft code will be prepared with updated zoning districts, standards, and procedures designed to be clearer and easier to administer.
Community Review | SPRING – EARLY SUMMER 2026
Residents, businesses, and stakeholders will have opportunities to review the draft code and provide feedback before adoption.
Adoption | SUMMER 2026
Following public input and revisions, the updated Development Code will be considered for adoption by the City of Frankfort and Franklin County.
Our team is a collaborative effort between the city, county, consultants, committees, and residents.
City of Frankfort
Eric Cockley |
Director of Planning &
Community Development
Jordan Miller |
Senior Community Planner
Vicki Birenberg |
Historic Preservation Officer
Franklin County
Robert Hewitt |
Director of Planning & Zoning
Ben Judah |
Planning Supervisor
McBride Dale Clarion (Prime Consultant)
Elizabeth Fields |
Public Planning Manager
Kyle Gibbs |
Planner
Human Nature & Strand Associates (Subconsultants)
Sara DiLandro, AICP |
Environmental & Community Planner
at Human Nature
Mike Woolum, P.E., P.L.S. |
Vice President at Strand Associates
Residents will have the opportunity to engage and work with the city, county, and consultants every phase of the planning process. In the end, the plan is for the people of Frankfort and Franklin County, and the resident’s contributions to the plan are heavily valued and dependent upon their voice and ideas.
The Executive Steering Committee…
is made up of representatives of the Planning Commission, the Franklin County Fiscal Court, The City Board of Commissioners and the respective City and County Planning Staffs. This group will be working hand in hand with the Comp Plan Consultant Team to facilitate the overall process of the Comprehensive Plan rewrite to ensure that effective community engagement opportunities are included as part of the process and to ensure that the process moves along as efficiently as possible. This group will be a sounding board for the process to ensure that the recommendations and vision created for the plan by the Advisory Committee and the greater public input are in line with community expectations.
Charles Stewart – Planning Commission Vice-Chair
Brent Sweger -Planning Commission
(City Appointment)
Unfilled Currently – Planning Commission (County Appointment)
JW Blackburn – Magistrate
(Fiscal Court Representative)
Layne Wilkerson – Mayor (Board of Commissioners Representative)
The Advisory
Committee is…
a wider group of stakeholders in the community from a variety of backgrounds, specialties, interests, and locations within the city and county. This group will be tasked with the hands-on review of the plan content, while providing input and ideas throughout the planning process. It is intended that the members of the advisory committee will also assist the process by informing their own individual networks about engagement opportunities and events.
Kaylah Smith or John Senter – Downtown Frankfort Inc.
Robin Antenucci – Frankfort
Tourism Commission
Tish Shade – Chamber of Commerce
Ford Childs – Walk/Bike Frankfort
Melanie VanHouten – FrankArts
Chris Schimmoeller – Envision
Franklin County
Adam Leonberger – UK Extension Office
Joe Sanderson or Coe Norton –
National Guard
Paul Thompson – Frankfort Independent Schools
Mark Kopp – Franklin County Schools
Brittany Sams – Architectural
Review Board
Sam Ruth – Finance Cabinet
Sonia Sanders – Kentucky
State University
John H. Carlton – At-Large Member
Sarah Snipes – At-Large Member
Bob Pelosi – At-Large Member
Bryan Hix – At-Large Member
Kristie Powe – At-Large Member
Jim Jackson – At-Large Member
Boday Borres– At-Large Member
John Meyer– At-Large Member
Eric Northcutt– At-Large Member
Begin engaging today!
Stay updated on news, meetings, surveys media, and other engagement opportunities.
Click the button to check for available surveys.
City of Frankfort
Eric Cockley
Director of
Planning & Community Development
Jordan Miller
Senior Community Planner
Vicki Birenberg
Historic Preservation Officer
Franklin County
Autumn Goderwis
Planning & Zoning Director
Ben Judah
Assistant Director
Tina Peck
Staff Planner
McBride Dale Clarion
(Prime Consultant)
Andy Juengling, AICP | LEED GA
Senior Planner & Project Manager
Human Nature
(Subconsultants)
Sara DiLandro, AICP
Environmental & Community Planner
Strand Associates
(Subconsultants)
Mike Woolum, P.E., P.L.S.
Vice President
Begin Engaging Today!
Your input will help ensure the updated Development Code reflects the values and priorities of the community.
Stay updated on news, meetings, surveys media, and other engagement opportunities.
Click the button to check for available surveys.
City of Frankfort
315 W 2nd Street, Frankfort, KY 40601
502-875-8500
ecockley@frankfort.ky.gov
https://frankfort.ky.gov/
Franklin County
321 W Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40601
502-875-8751
robert.hewitt@franklincounty.ky.gov
https://franklincounty.ky.gov/
315 W 2nd Street, Frankfort, KY 40601
502-875-8500
ecockley@frankfort.ky.gov
https://frankfort.ky.gov/
321 W Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40601
502-875-8751
robert.hewitt@franklincounty.ky.gov
https://franklincounty.ky.gov/