# Board of Adjustment Meeting - August 22, 2014 > Auto-transcribed civic record · August 22, 2014 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/3438 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/3438?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2014-08-22 - **Last revised**: August 22, 2014 - **Length**: 1 words > ⚠️ **Auto-generated content.** The transcript on this page is the Granicus stenographer's live closed-captioning track, captured at the time of broadcast (typos and broken sentences common). Speaker labels come from the same track. Structured facts were extracted with GPT-4o; the narrative summary was written by Anthropic Claude Sonnet. Verbatim wording and speaker attribution may contain errors. See [methodology](https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/about/methodology) or [report a correction](mailto:editor@lexingtonky.news). --- ## Meeting Overview The Urban County Board of Adjustment Planning Services Section convened on August 22, 2014, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chambers at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Barry Stumbo presiding as the meeting officer. The board addressed four agenda items during the session, all of which involved appeals related to variances and conditional use permits. The meeting included one public comment period and resulted in four formal votes by the board members. All four appeals brought before the board were approved, including a variance appeal by Patricia G. Hill and three conditional use appeals - two by the YMCA of Central Kentucky and one by Crossing Christian Fellowship. ## Attendance The following members were present at the meeting: • Barry Stumbo • James Griggs • Larry Forester • Joan Whitman • Kathryn Moore • Thomas Glover **Absent:** • Janice Meyer No members arrived late to the meeting. ## Votes and Decisions The board considered four appeals during the August 22, 2014 meeting, approving all items with varying levels of support. **C-2014-54** - The YMCA of Central Kentucky's appeal for a conditional use permit to increase enrollment for a child care facility from 50 to 138 children was approved. Kathryn Moore made the motion, seconded by Thomas Glover. The measure passed with 5 ayes and 1 abstention, with Barry Stumbo, Joan Whitman, Kathryn Moore, and Thomas Glover voting in favor. The approval was subject to three conditions recommended by staff. **C-2014-57** - Crossing Christian Fellowship's appeal for a conditional use permit to establish a church received unanimous approval. Kathryn Moore motioned and Thomas Glover seconded the measure. All five board members - Barry Stumbo, Joan Whitman, Kathryn Moore, and Thomas Glover - voted in favor with no abstentions. The permit was granted subject to four conditions recommended by staff. **V-2014-53** - Patricia G. Hill's appeal for a variance to increase fence height from 6 feet to 8 feet was approved in a roll call vote. Thomas Glover made the motion, seconded by Joan Whitman. The variance passed 5-1, with Barry Stumbo, Joan Whitman, Kathryn Moore, and Thomas Glover voting in favor, while James Griggs cast the sole opposing vote. The approval included the condition that the property shall remain as developed in accordance with the submitted site plan and application. **C-2014-55** - The YMCA of Central Kentucky's second appeal for a conditional use permit to establish a child care facility for up to 250 children was unanimously approved. Joan Whitman motioned and James Griggs seconded the measure. Barry Stumbo, Joan Whitman, Kathryn Moore, and Thomas Glover voted in favor, with 1 abstention recorded. The permit was granted subject to four staff-recommended conditions that were revised during the hearing. ## Public Comment One member of the public addressed the board during the public comment period. **Stella Blakeman** spoke in opposition to a fence height variance request. Ms. Blakeman expressed concerns about the proposed variance, specifically citing safety issues and potential visual obstruction that could result from the increased fence height. She urged the board to deny the variance application based on these safety and visibility concerns. *Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for this public comment period.* ## Contested Items The meeting included one contested item that generated community opposition and required discussion among board members. **Fence Height Variance for Patricia G. Hill** A fence height variance request submitted by Patricia G. Hill faced opposition from at least one neighbor during the public hearing process. The disagreement centered on concerns about the proposed increased fence height, with the opposing neighbor citing both safety and visual impact issues as reasons for their objection. The neighbor's opposition focused on two primary areas of concern. Safety considerations were raised regarding the proposed taller fence structure, though the specific nature of these safety concerns was not detailed in the available records. Additionally, visual concerns were expressed about how the increased fence height would affect the aesthetic character of the neighborhood or potentially impact sight lines in the area. The variance request required board consideration due to the community opposition, as fence height regulations typically have established limits that require formal approval to exceed. The presence of neighbor opposition meant the board needed to weigh the applicant's stated need for the variance against the community concerns raised during the public input process. The outcome of this contested item was not specified in the available meeting records, leaving unclear whether the variance was approved, denied, or tabled for further consideration. The board's deliberation would have needed to balance Patricia G. Hill's reasons for requesting the increased fence height against the neighbor's documented safety and visual concerns. This type of variance request commonly generates neighborhood discussion, as fence heights can affect property values, privacy, and the overall character of residential areas. The formal opposition ensured the matter received full consideration rather than routine approval. ## Variance Appeal by Patricia G. Hill The board considered variance appeal V-2014-53, submitted by Patricia G. Hill, requesting permission to increase the maximum allowable fence height from 6 feet to 8 feet in a Single Family Residential zone. Patricia Hill presented her case to the board, explaining the circumstances that necessitated the variance request for her property. The appeal sought to exceed the standard residential fence height restrictions by two feet. Stella Blakeman also participated in the discussion regarding this variance application. The board reviewed the merits of Hill's request, considering factors such as property characteristics, neighborhood compatibility, and compliance with zoning regulations. The variance would allow construction of an 8-foot fence where municipal code typically limits residential fencing to 6 feet in height. Following deliberation, the board approved variance V-2014-53, granting Patricia Hill permission to construct the taller fence on her Single Family Residential property. The approval allows Hill to proceed with her fencing plans at the requested 8-foot height, representing an exception to the standard zoning requirements for her specific circumstances. *Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.* ## Conditional Use Appeal by YMCA of Central Kentucky The board considered agenda item C-2014-54, a conditional use appeal submitted by the YMCA of Central Kentucky. The appeal requested permission to significantly expand enrollment at their child care facility located in a Light Industrial zone, seeking to increase capacity from the current limit of 50 children to 138 children. David Martirano served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item. The proposal represented a substantial expansion of the facility's operations, nearly tripling the number of children that could be served at the location. The conditional use permit was necessary because child care facilities operating in Light Industrial zones require special approval to ensure compatibility with the surrounding industrial uses and to address any potential impacts on traffic, parking, and neighborhood operations. Following deliberation, the board approved the conditional use appeal, allowing the YMCA of Central Kentucky to proceed with their expansion plans. The approval enables the organization to serve 88 additional children at the facility, representing a significant increase in their child care capacity within the community. The decision supports the YMCA's mission to provide expanded child care services while maintaining appropriate oversight through the conditional use permit process in the Light Industrial zoning district. ## Conditional Use Appeal by Crossing Christian Fellowship The board considered agenda item C-2014-57, an appeal by Crossing Christian Fellowship for a conditional use permit to establish a church in a Wholesale and Warehouse Business zone. David Redish served as a key speaker during the discussion of this appeal. The application sought approval for the religious organization to operate a church facility in an area zoned for wholesale and warehouse business activities. Such conditional use permits are typically required when proposed uses do not align with the primary zoning designation but may be compatible with appropriate conditions and safeguards. The board ultimately approved the conditional use appeal, allowing Crossing Christian Fellowship to proceed with establishing their church in the Wholesale and Warehouse Business zone. This approval would have included any necessary conditions or requirements to ensure the religious use remains compatible with the surrounding business district. *Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item, preventing more detailed documentation of the discussion points, concerns raised, or conditions attached to the approval.* ## Conditional Use Appeal by YMCA of Central Kentucky The Board considered agenda item C-2014-55, an appeal by the YMCA of Central Kentucky for a conditional use permit to establish a child care facility accommodating up to 250 children in a Planned Neighborhood Residential zone. David Martirano served as a key speaker during the discussion of this appeal. The YMCA sought approval to operate a large-scale child care facility that would serve significantly more children than typical residential area childcare operations. The conditional use permit was necessary because the proposed child care facility exceeded the standard allowances for childcare services in the Planned Neighborhood Residential zoning district. The request for accommodating up to 250 children represented a substantial childcare operation that required special consideration due to its scale and potential impact on the surrounding residential neighborhood. The Board ultimately approved the conditional use appeal, allowing the YMCA of Central Kentucky to proceed with establishing the child care facility for up to 250 children in the designated Planned Neighborhood Residential zone. This approval enables the YMCA to expand its community services by providing childcare resources to local families while operating within the parameters of the conditional use permit. *Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.* --- ## Decisions - **C-2014-54** — passed (5-0): YMCA of Central Kentucky appeal for a conditional use permit to increase enrollment for a child care facility from 50 to 138 children - **C-2014-57** — passed (5-0): Crossing Christian Fellowship appeal for a conditional use permit to establish a church - **V-2014-53** — passed (5-1): Patricia G. Hill appeal for a variance to increase fence height from 6 feet to 8 feet - **C-2014-55** — passed (5-0): YMCA of Central Kentucky appeal for a conditional use permit to establish a child care facility for up to 250 children --- ## Full transcript ~~~~~~~~?(