Before Advancing a Development Concept
1. Confirm the correct local jurisdiction first
Determine whether the site is inside the City of Somerset or in unincorporated Pulaski County. That affects the review path.
- For sites in Somerset, review zoning, land use, setbacks, density, parking, and subdivision requirements with City of Somerset Planning and Zoning.
- For sites in unincorporated Pulaski County, confirm county building/code requirements and whether commercial permitting applies.
2. Review KHC programs and current allocation priorities
Check Kentucky Housing Corporation’s current multifamily guidelines, scoring materials, and Qualified Allocation Plan before shaping a concept around tax credits or other KHC-administered resources.
3. Determine USDA Rural Development fit early
For eligible rural projects, USDA can be an important part of the financing strategy. Confirm program fit, rural eligibility, and whether the project aligns with USDA multifamily or other housing programs before moving too far into design.
4. Explore CDBG through the correct public channel
In Kentucky, CDBG is administered through the Kentucky Department for Local Government. Developers typically need to work through an eligible local government and may also coordinate with LCADD for planning and project development support.
5. Engage local stakeholders early
Early conversations with local officials, infrastructure providers, housing partners, and community stakeholders can surface site constraints, timing issues, and support opportunities before they become expensive problems.
6. Evaluate infrastructure, utilities, and site access
Confirm utility availability, access, drainage, frontage, topography, and any infrastructure improvements needed to support the concept. These factors can materially affect cost, timing, and feasibility.
7. Build in energy efficiency and long-term operating sustainability
Development decisions should consider not only upfront construction cost, but also long-term operating cost, durability, maintenance burden, and utility performance. Those factors affect both property performance and resident affordability.