John C. Talbott

John C. Talbott

MEMBER

Louisville & Kentucky Land Use, Zoning and Real Estate Development Attorney

John C. Talbott is a Louisville land use, zoning and real estate development attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing developers, builders, landowners, real estate investors, businesses and institutional clients throughout Kentucky. His practice focuses on complex rezonings, development approvals, land use strategy, regulatory matters, administrative appeals and related litigation.

John has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 in the field of Land Use and Zoning Law. Over his career, he has represented clients in connection with billions of dollars of commercial, industrial, mixed-use, multifamily and residential development throughout Kentucky.

Since 2018, John and Nicholas Pregliasco have solely owned and led Bardenwerper, Talbott & Pregliasco, PLLC, continuing the land use, zoning and development practice founded by William B. Bardenwerper in 1987.

Core Land Use & Development Services

John's land use and development practice includes:

· Rezonings and zoning map amendments

· Preliminary subdivision plans, major subdivisions and development plans

· Conditional use permits

· Variances and waivers

· Form district changes and other zoning approvals

· Nonconforming uses and vested development rights

· Annexations and multi-jurisdictional development approvals

· MSD, floodplain, drainage, stream and infrastructure approvals

· Administrative appeals and land use litigation

John regularly represents clients before planning commissions, boards of zoning adjustment, legislative bodies and other governmental agencies. His involvement often begins before a development application is filed, helping clients evaluate zoning, access, density, infrastructure and regulatory constraints and develop an entitlement strategy appropriate for the property.

For significant or contested developments, John works closely with land planners, civil and traffic engineers, architects, environmental consultants and other development professionals to address regulatory requirements, neighborhood concerns and infrastructure issues. He is frequently retained for difficult properties and controversial projects requiring both legal strategy and experienced advocacy.

Selected Zoning, Land Use & Development Matters

Flint Development - Campbellsburg, Henry County, Kentucky. Represented Flint Acquisitions, an affiliate of Kansas City-based Flint Development, in the annexation of approximately 217 acres from unincorporated Henry County into the City of Campbellsburg and rezoning from agricultural to industrial use for an approximately $250 million industrial development planned for two buildings totaling more than 2 million square feet.

Hagan Properties - Sweetwater Springs, Louisville/Douglass Hills. Represented Hagan Properties in obtaining unanimous approval for an approximately 37-acre mixed-use development involving 434 apartments and townhomes together with approximately 12 acres of commercial development planned for retail, restaurants and other uses.

Fern Creek Commons - Bardstown Road/Cedar Creek Road, Louisville. Represented the developer of an approximately 45-acre multi-tenant commercial development in obtaining rezoning to C-1 and C-2, development-plan approval, waivers and variances for a major Bardstown Road commercial corridor near I-265. The project required extensive transportation and access planning, including a proposed traffic signal, as well as a separate Louisville MSD Floodplain Board variance involving regulated intermittent streams within the core developable area. Successfully obtained the regulatory relief necessary to accommodate a functional commercial development while preserving substantial tree canopy and open space.

Perfection Builders - Aiken Road, Louisville. Represented Perfection Builders in obtaining rezoning and subdivision approval for an approximately 254-acre, 866-lot residential development, including approximately 65 acres of open space and substantial transportation, access and buffering commitments.

Johnson Road/Floyds Fork - Louisville. Represented the developer of an approximately 61-acre mixed residential development involving 81 single-family lots and 80 multifamily units within the specialized Floyds Fork Development Review Overlay. The multi-hearing approval process required resolution of significant floodplain, grading, tree-preservation, steep-slope, open-space and environmental issues.

Sanctuary Falls - Jefferson and Oldham Counties. Represented the developer in a complex, multi-phase residential development spanning the Jefferson County-Oldham County line, requiring coordination of subdivision, transportation and infrastructure approvals across two local jurisdictions and with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

L&N Federal Credit Union Corporate Headquarters - Louisville. Represented L&N Federal Credit Union in obtaining rezoning and development approvals for an approximately 70,000-square-foot corporate headquarters expansion of its Smyrna Parkway campus near I-265. The project included a zoning change, detailed development plan, multiple variances and a waiver.

Selected Contested Land Use & Litigation Matters

Canfield/Rose Island Glen - Oldham County. Represented the developer of a 64-lot residential subdivision on a particularly difficult property that multiple developers had attempted to develop for more than a decade. After an initial approval in 2021, the matter proceeded through an administrative remand, subsequent denial and Circuit Court litigation. John successfully represented the developer before the Kentucky Court of Appeals, which reversed based upon inadequate findings and consideration of improper evidence. Following remand and further proceedings, the development received unanimous approval in 2026.

Blankenbaker Station Business Park - Louisville. Represented HOSTS Development in litigation arising from the denial of an MSD/Floodplain Board variance necessary to continue development of its 225+ acre Class A office and industrial business park. The dispute involved vested development rights, prior governmental approvals and subsequently enacted floodplain regulations after the developer had invested more than $30 million in land, roads and infrastructure. The matter was ultimately worked through the litigation and regulatory process so development could proceed.

SI Ready Mix - Aiken Road, Louisville. Successfully represented a concrete-mixing operation in a highly contested land use proceeding adjacent to the Lake Forest residential community. The matter involved substantial issues concerning industrial/residential compatibility, traffic, dust, noise, setbacks, landscaping and buffering, and resulted in approval of a substantially mitigated development plan.

Bull Run Townhomes - Louisville/Graymoor-Devondale. Represented Hagan Properties in obtaining approvals for a 72-unit townhome development involving both Louisville Metro and the City of Graymoor-Devondale and subsequently successfully defended the development when its approvals were challenged in litigation. The entitlement process also involved significant transportation, stormwater, sewer and neighborhood issues.

MSD, Floodplain & Infrastructure Approvals

John's development practice frequently extends beyond zoning approvals to infrastructure and regulatory issues that can determine whether an entitled property can actually be developed. He has represented developers in difficult matters involving Louisville MSD, floodplain regulations, drainage, stream impacts and other infrastructure requirements.

Recent matters include obtaining significant Louisville MSD Floodplain Board variances associated with Hagan Properties' Sweetwater Springs mixed-use development and the approximately 45-acre Fern Creek Commons commercial development at Bardstown Road and Cedar Creek Road, as well as representing HOSTS Development in contested MSD/Floodplain Board proceedings involving Blankenbaker Station Business Park.

Representative Clients

John has represented national, regional and local developers, builders, businesses and institutional property owners, including:

Flint Development

Hagan Properties

Pulte Homes

Baptist Healthcare System

Bacardi / Angel's Envy

Clayton Homes / Arbor Homes

L&N Federal Credit Union

Goodwill of Kentuckiana

Highgates Development

Hogan Real Estate

Hollenbach & Oakley

HOSTS Development

Jefferson Development Group

Perfection Builders

Recognition & Professional Leadership

John was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 in the field of Land Use and Zoning Law.

He was named the 2022 Associate of the Year by the Building Industry Association of Greater Louisville and serves on the BIA Board of Directors. He has also participated in land development initiatives through both the Building Industry Association of Greater Louisville and Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI).

Background & Community Involvement

John founded Talbott & Talbott, PLLC in 2000 and joined the current firm as an equity partner in 2004. In 2018, John and Nicholas Pregliasco acquired ownership and assumed leadership of the firm from founder William B. Bardenwerper.

John received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and his law degree from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, where he served as an editor of the Journal of Law and Education. He is also a graduate of Leadership Kentucky.

His community involvement has included service as President and a six-year board member of Visually Impaired Preschool Services and as a Parish Council member of St. Brigit Church.Leadership, Kentucky Class, 2013; Editor, Journal of Law and Education; Vice President and Board Member of Visually Impaired Pre-School Services.