Louisville Metro Council seeks to limit street furniture

A bipartisan group of four Metro Councilmen have introduced a resolution calling upon Kentucky’s Transportation Cabinet to allow Metro Government to regulate the placement of “street furniture” on state-owned highways within the city. Metro Councilmen Hal Heiner (R., 19th Dist.) and Rick Blackwell (D., 12th Dist.) along with Councilwoman Mary C. Woolridge (D., 3rd Dist.) and Kelly Downard (R., 16th Dist.) are seeking to establish a permitting process for placement of street furniture in right-of-ways throughout Louisville Metro.

The resolution calls on Metro government to take over responsibility for the maintenance of right-of-ways regardless of which entity controls the property.

Councilman Heiner said: “We are working to invest funds in bettering our community, but need this change to require that items placed within our right-of-ways are both uniform to the area and aesthetically appropriate.”

"Bad" street furniture (Oregon.gov)"This resolution envisions Metro Louisville having the ability to treat all of its roads in the same manner. Currently street furniture is treated differently on different roads. We need a consistent process for permits and enforcement," explained Councilman Blackwell.

Resolution R-207-10-09 will require that any bench, lamp, shelter, waste receptacle or other item installed on the right of way on any road located within Metro Government would require the approval of Metro Government’s Director of Public works and must also comply with basic requirements established within both state law and local policies.

The resolution for a uniform permitting process for street furniture will receive its first reading at the Thursday, October 22 meeting of the Metro Council and is expected to be sent to the Metro Council’s Public Works and Transportation Committee, which is scheduled to meet October 29 at 2:00 p.m.

Councilman Heiner began working on this ordinance after a number of non-conforming pieces of lawn furniture were spread across Shelbyville Road near the City of Middletown following the completion of Phase II of the Shelbyville Road Beautification Project. Councilman Blackwell began work on this resolution shortly after a number of non-conforming pieces of street furniture were added to areas of right-of-ways on Dixie Highway where improvements are now planned.