Email: john@bardlaw.net
Phone: (502) 741-8783
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 owned and led Bardenwerper, Talbott & Pregliasco, PLLC, continuing the land-use, zoning, and development practice founded by William B. Bardenwerper in 1987.
- 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 the judgment based on inadequate findings and the improper consideration of 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
- Pulte Homes
- Bacardi / Angel’s Envy
- L&N Federal Credit Union
- Highgates Development
- Hollenbach & Oakley
- Jefferson Development Group
- Hagan Properties
- Baptist Healthcare System
- Clayton Homes / Arbor Homes
- Goodwill of Kentuckiana
- Hogan Real Estate
- HOSTS Development
- 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.
Email: john@bardlaw.net
Phone: (502) 741-8783
Kentucky’s Trusted Rezoning & Land Development Attorney
With over 30 years of experience in Kentucky land use law, John C. Talbott is a leading rezoning and development attorney representing some of the region’s largest and most active real estate developers. Based in Louisville, he has guided billions in commercial, industrial, and residential projects through complex planning, zoning, and entitlement processes across the state.
Focused Expertise in Zoning & Development
- Rezoning & Entitlements: John specializes in shepherding developments through zoning map amendments, conditional use permits, and land use approvals—whether for subdivisions, industrial parks, or mixed-use urban projects.
- Land Development Strategy: From initial feasibility to final plat approval, he helps clients design and execute a legal roadmap through planning commissions, legislative bodies, and regulatory agencies.
- Public-Private Coordination: Known for his collaborative approach, John works closely with planning staff, public officials, and elected representatives to anticipate concerns and build community support for projects.
- Master Planning & Complex Projects: He leads multidisciplinary teams of land planners, engineers, and architects to deliver coordinated solutions for large-scale development, including projects exceeding $600 million.
Notable Projects
- Counsel on active development projects totaling over $2–3 billion, including:
- A $600M+ mixed-use development featuring apartments, hotel, and retail space
- A 200-acre industrial site for a large international appliance manufacturer in Shelby County, Kentucky
- Dozens of subdivisions and multi-family sites ranging from $20M–$300M
- Several industrial parks in Jefferson, Shelby, and Henry Counties
List of some Major Clients
- Bacardi and Angel’s Envy
- Baptist Healthcare System
- Clayton Homes & Arbor Homes (a Berkshire Hathaway Company)
- Goodwill of Kentuckiana
- Hagan Properties
- Highgates Development
- Hogan Real Estate
- Hollenbach & Oakley
- Jefferson Development Group
- L & N Financial
- Perfection Home Builders
- Pulte Homes
Notable Awards and Accomplishments
- 2022 Associate of the Year, Building Industry Association of Louisville
- Serves on Land Development Committees for both the BIA of Greater Louisville and Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI)
- Serves on the Board for the Building Industry Association of Greater Louisville
Relationships That Get Results
- Established credibility with planning commissions and local legislative bodies throughout Louisville Metro, Oldham County, Bullitt County, Shelby County, Henry County and surrounding areas
- Strong political and agency relationships help streamline the approval process and resolve opposition or technical delays
- Frequently retained for difficult or controversial rezonings that require creative solutions and skilled advocacy
Background & Affiliations
- Founder of Talbott & Talbott, PLLC in 2000; joined current firm as equity partner in 2004
- Former editor, Journal of Law and Education, University of Louisville School of Law
- Board Member of Building Industry Association of Greater Louisville
- Vanderbilt University undergraduate
- Graduate of Leadership Kentucky (2013)
- Former President and 6-year board member, Visually Impaired Preschool Services
- Former Parish Council Member for St. Brigit Church
Why Developers Choose John Talbott
- Rezoning experience at scale: From infill to mega-sites, he knows how to get land approved.
- Deep understanding of local processes: Knows what each jurisdiction wants to see—and how to deliver it.
- Political and regulatory insight: Decades of experience building consensus among officials and stakeholders.
- Developer-aligned mindset: Focused on risk mitigation, entitlement speed, and long-term land value creation.
Planning a rezoning or large-scale development? Start with the attorney who knows how to get it approved. Contact John C. Talbott today.