Barn to be razed after neighbors complain

 A large barn that has stood on Keith Road for several decades will be razed to make way for a new home.

Linda Ireland

A Hodgenville man agreed last week to demolish his barn after neighbors complained. He had planned to build the house (at right) behind the barn. Several factors led him to change the homesite.

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Linda Ireland

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In a strange twist, the house construction did not occur originally as planned. The house was built beside the barn, rather than behind it. It was a move that seemed to have saved the still-usable barn. 

But after adjoining property owners complained to Land of Lincoln Planning and Zoning, the homeowner has agreed to demolish the barn.

In July, the Land of Lincoln Planning and Zoning Commission approved Michael Walker’s request to rezone his property from agriculture to residential. According to the minutes, Walker said he would remove the barn before he built his new house. 

Planning and Zoning Administrator Gordon “Bud” Ireland said the outbuilding was in front of the proposed home site and agreed it would need to be removed.

As plans progressed and problems arose with placement of electrical lines, lateral lines and a radio tower, Walker decided to build the house beside the barn and use the barn for storage.

Neighbors began calling the planning and zoning office, asking if Walker would be required to raze the barn as he stated in July.

Walker was requested to reappear before the commission.

At the Jan. 10 meeting, Walker agreed to demolish the barn – but asked for “a long grace period.” He said it would be expensive to tear down the building and he would need to find another place to store his items.

The Commissioners agreed to give Walker until Sept. 1 to remove the barn.

Ireland said after the meeting that Walker could apply for a building permit for a new barn – and that it could possibly be rebuilt in the same location as the old barn.

“He would have to abide by the setbacks,” Ireland said.

Walker declined an interview after the meeting.

In other business, the PZ board approved Dennis Evan’s request to rezone three acres on Pleasant Church Road from agriculture to residential; and Eugene King’s request to rezone one acre on Old Elizabethtown Road from agriculture to residential.