A new call center in the Winchester-Clark County Industrial Park could employ as many as 800 by early next year.
The Winchester-Clark County Planning Commission unanimously approved a preliminary development plan submitted by Panattoni Construction Inc. for the Amazon call center, an 81,000-square-foot building at 1919 Rolling Hills Lane.
“We could use some good news,” Commission Chairman Larry Disney said of the new jobs created by the call center.
The 16.25-acre lot is already zoned as light industrial and the proposed usage is in agreement with the Winchester-Clark County Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. The call center will be across from to the Winchester campus of Bluegrass Community and Technical College, and turning lanes will be added to Rolling Hills Lane at the two call center entrances and at the BCTC¿entrance.
A final development plan has been submitted for review by the Winchester-Clark County Planning and Zoning Division, and will be presented to the Commission in October.
Two final development plans also were approved for expansions and changes to existing businesses. BMT¿of Lexington Inc. requested approval of a development plan for a new Burger King restaurant at 1 Shoppers Drive, at the old Dog House location. The existing building will be torn down and a new facility will be built on the .8-acre lot. Developers hope to use existing entrances from Shoppers Drive for customer access.
Commissioner Mark Poole raised concerns about traffic congestion on U.S. 60, which intersects Shoppers Drive. The restaurant will be in close proximity to Subway and McDonald’s restaurants, as well as the new Clark Regional Medical Center.
The plan was unanimously approved, but commissioners requested the traffic situation could be studied more closely, with possible modifications to the access points.
Rankin and JoEtta Paynter also received approval for a final development plan to expand the Rankin Paynter Buying Center at 903 W. Lexington Ave. The Paynters plan to build an 1,800-square foot structure adjacent to the buying center for showrooms, storage and offices.
Commissioners granted two variances with their approval. Because of expected low traffic volume at the business, the Paynters received a variance for 19 parking spaces, reducing the required amount from 51 to 32. Another variance will waive the requirement for landscape buffering for 901 W. Lexington Ave. because the existing building has no doors or windows facing the parking lot.
The next Planning Commission meeting will be Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Clark County Courthouse.
Contact Rachel Gilliam at rparsons@winchestersun.com.
