LOUISVILLE — ConocoPhillips can ask the city to guarantee, upfront, that it can build a 95-foot-tall building on its campus at the former StorageTek site off U.S. 36.
The City Council voted 4-3 last week to change the city’s municipal code to allow a future vote on giving ConocoPhillips a height exemption early in the review process.
“We’re giving everybody some predictability,” said Councilwoman Sheri Marsella.
Dave Clabots, Bob Muckle and Frost Yarnell voted against the measure.
The council delayed a discussion of ConocoPhillips’ preliminary designs until next month.
ConocoPhillips requested that the city grant “vested rights” so it could construct buildings in the range of 65 to 95 feet tall, the latter more than three times the city’s commercial limit. However, the city code did not allow such a request at the preliminary point of the planning process, requiring the change.
The Houston-based energy company hopes to begin construction of a global training center, research-and-development facilities and accessory developments in 10 months. The company plans to construct the campus in phases over the next 22 years, opening its first phase in 2013.
