Kenton County, Kentucky: A Model of Multi-Community Planning & Development

The Challenge of Multi-Community Planning

Over the years, as each of Kenton County’s cities developed its own zoning ordinances, the county’s planning agency faced significant challenges in harmonizing local regulations. With different requirements for signage, parking, and building standards across cities, developing within the county often became complex and inefficient.

This is a common hurdle in multi-community planning efforts, as the unique needs and regulations of individual communities must be balanced with the broader goal of regional coordination.

For Kenton County, managing this diversity made it challenging to develop a unified system for project submissions and approvals. Planning staff knew that implementing a modern, collaborative solution could greatly reduce these pain points, creating a more streamlined approach to development while maintaining each community’s identity.

enCodePlus: A Unified Solution for Multi-Community Planning

In its search for the right technology, Kenton County found enCodePlus to be an ideal platform for advancing its goals of regional cohesion.

The collaborative document management capabilities of enCodePlus—such as editing, annotating, amending, and archiving in a shared digital space—provide exactly the functionality needed to facilitate multi-community planning. The software’s robust records management and cloud access enable PDS and the individual city councils to operate more cohesively, allowing multiple jurisdictions to work together in real-time, regardless of physical location.

The shift to a “paperless” environment became achievable through enCodePlus, as planning documents could now be securely accessed from any device, 24/7. This accessibility is crucial in the digital age, where planners, designers, and residents alike require easy access to ordinances, development standards, and zoning information.

enCodePlus’ intuitive web interface and integrated GIS system also allow for quick connections to related regulations and documents, enabling a comprehensive understanding of zoning laws that is accessible to both professionals and the general public. This feature is a critical aspect of multi-community planning, as it allows all stakeholders to be on the same page and supports transparency across jurisdictions.

Currently, 18 of Kenton County’s 19 cities have agreed to adopt enCodePlus, with the aim of bringing at least six cities online within the first year. This adoption of standardized ordinances marks a major milestone in the county’s multi-community planning journey, as participating cities move towards more consistent regulations.

The ultimate goal is to build a network of fully integrated city websites under the PDS umbrella, each with its own unique website, maps, and tools but with shared access to resources, reference libraries, and planning functions.

A Vision for Regional Collaboration

The move to enCodePlus allows Kenton County to lead the way in multi-community planning by providing a platform that encourages collaboration, resource sharing, and streamlined regulatory processes.

The integration of multiple jurisdictions into a single digital ecosystem offers an inspiring example for other counties and cities aiming to unify their planning efforts. Through this collaboration, Kenton County is poised to achieve faster approvals, greater consistency, and enhanced accessibility in planning and development.

Kenton County’s leaders are optimistic about the impact of this multi-community planning initiative on the county’s future.

“With one product, we can do so much more than before,” said Dennis Gordon, FAICP, Kenton County’s Director of Planning & Development Services. “As with other emerging technology like cell phones and fax machines, we didn’t know we needed it. Now we wonder how we survived without it.”

This sentiment echoes the county’s commitment to advancing planning in a way that will serve the region for decades to come.

To explore the Kenton County platform and learn more about their journey in multi-community planning, visit Kenton County Z21.

Curious about how you might craft a similar program? Contact us now to explore how your county might build a platform like this.