After signing a proclamation alongside the Hopkinsville-Christian County Human Rights Commission recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month, the Hopkinsville City Council approved Pyle Lane zoning ordinances, discussed the areas traffic concerns and budget amendments at Tuesday’s meeting.
Hopkinsville’s Pyle Lane is currently a site for housing development, but also a site of concern according to what Council members and Mayor J.R. Knight have heard from residents.
At the meeting, Council members unanimously approved plans for single-family and two-family residence zoning along Pyle Lane on second reading. Concluding the meeting, Council member Chuck Crabtree shared concerns he has been told by residents regarding the area.
Crabtree says a resident emailed him about their concerns over traffic on and around Pyle Lane and says it won’t get any better with current and upcoming construction.
Knight says he has heard about and discussed the same concerns and would like to see a roundabout or traffic lights installed to slow down traffic. Knight has also discussed the concerns with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, but says since it is a state road residents would have to contact their state representatives regarding their concerns.
Council member, Amy Craig who represents ward five of Hopkinsville which contains Pyle Lane agreed with Crabtree’s and Knight’s sentiments that something needs to be done to better regulate traffic.
Craig says she gets weekly complaints from residents about Pyle Lane and wants to find a way to expedite a solution for concerns surrounding Pyle Lane because she fears that once state government responds it will be after a major accident occurs.
Knight says they will continue pushing their concerns to the state government and revisit the topic when they are told what safety measures can be put in place.
Along with discussing their concerns surrounding Pyle Lane, the Council also approved ordinances amending the 2023-24 fiscal year operating and capital budgets. Both budgets were amended according to projected yearly revenues and expenses.
The operational budget was increased as a result of additional revenue carried over from the prior year taking projected revenues from around $48.1 million to $48.7 million. For the capital budget both projected revenues and expenses saw slight increases.