# Planning Commission Zoning (Sub) Committee - June 4, 2026 > Auto-transcribed civic record · Commission · June 4, 2026 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/6790 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/6790?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2026-06-04 - **Body**: Commission - **Last revised**: June 4, 2026 - **Length**: 2,560 words - **Speakers**: Chair > ⚠️ **Auto-generated content.** Audio from the official Granicus video was auto-transcribed with OpenAI's open-source Whisper large-v3-turbo model, run locally by The Lexington Times. Structured facts were extracted with GPT-4o; the narrative summary was written by Anthropic Claude. Verbatim wording may contain errors. See [methodology](https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/about/methodology) or [report a correction](mailto:editor@lexingtonky.news). --- ## Meeting Overview The Lexington Fayette County Committee met on June 4, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. ET in the Phoenix Building, 3rd Floor Conference Room. The meeting's agenda consisted of a single item — the Fox South, LLC Zone Change — which was approved during the session. Over the course of the meeting, 1 vote was taken and 1 agenda item was addressed. No public comments were heard during the meeting. ## Attendance The following members were present at the Commission meeting on June 4, 2026: - Tony Barrett - Mr. Michler - Mr. Forester No members were recorded as absent or late. ## Votes and Decisions The Commission took the following action during the June 4, 2026 meeting: - **Approval of Variances for Fox South, LLC Zone Change** [timestamp: 10:25]: Mr. Michler moved to approve the landscape variances associated with the Fox South, LLC zone change, and Mr. Forester provided the second. The motion passed unanimously. No roll call vote breakdown was recorded. The approval was granted on the condition that the landscape variances should not adversely affect the public health, safety or welfare, nor should they create a hazard or nuisance to the public. ## Fox South, LLC Zone Change **Agenda Item:** PLN-MAR-26-00011 [timestamp: 01:24] The Commission took up a discussion and vote on a zone change request submitted by Fox South, LLC for property located at 500 Southland Drive. The applicant sought to rezone the property from a Professional Office (P-1) designation to a Neighborhood Business (B-1) designation. Variances associated with the proposed rezoning were also discussed as part of the item. Key speakers during this agenda item included Tony Barrett and Mr. Michler, who participated in the presentation and discussion of the request. Following the discussion — which addressed the proposed zone change, the associated variances, and any relevant considerations related to the shift from a Professional Office to a Neighborhood Business classification — the Commission voted to approve the request. --- ## Decisions - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Approval of variances for Fox South, LLC zone change --- ## Full transcript Thank you. Good afternoon. Today is June 4th, 2026, and this is the meeting of the Lexan-Fade Urban County Government's Planning Commission's Zoning Committee. We only have... Thanks, Bill. So we only have one item on today's agenda, and that is a discussion of PLNMAR 2611 Fox South. There we go. Okay. Ryle Browning with planning staff. So this is just going to be an update on PLNMAR 2611 Fox South LLC. So at the previous zoning committee meeting, the zone itself was recommended for approval by staff and by the zoning committee. But I'm just going to go through some more of the details quickly, and then we'll discuss the updates to the variance request afterwards. So this is a zone change request from a professional office or P1 zone to a neighborhood business or B1 zone located on 500 Southland Drive. and they are requesting an enhanced neighborhood place type as well as a low-dense non-residential mixed-use development type in order to – yes. Okay. All right. Hopefully that's better. so they are requesting to rezone the property from a P1 zone to a B1 zone in order to operate a coffee shop and record store so here's the vicinity map and the subject property is located in white in the center here and it fronts on Southland Drive but it's also in the corner with Mitchell Avenue here and then here's the zoning for the surrounding area so the area to the north of the subject property is in a p1 zone although there's not a professional office building located there and as well as r1c single family residential and then to the east there are neighborhood business or b1 zones um to the south there's a professional office zone and a neighborhood business zone with the health first bluegrass building located on this property here. And then finally, the single-family residences can also be found to the west of the subject property. And then here's the aerial view of the property where we can see the subject property outlined in yellow, single-family residences located to the west, and then neighborhood businesses located to the east. so the applicant chose an enhanced neighborhood place type low density non-residential mixed use development type and a b1 zone and staff agrees with those and thinks they're appropriate for the area as the proposal is seeking to add neighborhood serving retail services and employment options so as i stated staff is recommending approval for this and the zoning committee had a recommendation of approval as well in the previous meeting last month So if there's any questions on the zoning change, I can answer those at this time. Thank you very much. Do we have any questions on this particular item? If not, thank you. We will hear from the applicant. Skip to the variance, okay. Sorry, sorry. We'll skip the development plan and then skip the variance request. So now the applicant is requesting three variances. They are to reduce the vehicular use area perimeter buffer from 8 feet to 0 feet, to reduce the interior landscaping for the vehicular use area from 10% to 3.2%, and to reduce the interior vehicular use area tree canopy from 30% to 7%. So at the last zoning committee meeting, the applicant had also requested a variance to increase the maximum front yard from 20 feet to 50 feet. However, staff noted that granting that maximum setback variance could negatively impact future redevelopment of the site. A variance granted to increase that setback would mean that for any future development that occurred there, it would similarly not be required to comply with that. So the applicant has now withdrawn that variance request, as well as the waiver to allow vehicular use area in the front yard. And then the second and third variances that are listed here, those are lesser variances than what was originally requested, which I can get into in a little bit more detail in just a minute. So here's a site photo, and this is from Southland, and then the entrance to the property is located here. And then here's another photo. This one is from Mitchell Avenue. So staff's concerns regarding pedestrian safety were about how the vehicular use area and the sidewalk are level here. And so after meeting with staff, the applicant provided an amended plan. And so now that there is going to be a curb that's located, You can see like the darker black line around the sidewalk on both Southland Drive side and the Mitchell Avenue side. That's going to increase the pedestrian safety so that cars aren't able to drive directly up onto the sidewalk. And then in addition to that, they're adding a tree and hedge in the southeast corner of the VUA. So that's right here. And so by adding that, that allows the applicant to request those lesser variances than what was initially requested. So the hedge and tree increased the interior landscaping from 0% to the 3.2%, and then the tree canopy was originally requested as a reduction to 0% for the variance, and now that is 7%. And then also with this proposal and the additions that are made, the VUA area is decreasing. So it's going from 11,837 square feet to 11,468 square feet. so staff is recommending approval of the amended variance requests approval of the landscape variance should not adversely affect the public health safety or welfare nor should it create a hazard or nuisance to the public the subject property is operated for over 60 years without the required bua perimeter buffer and landscaping the applicant is proposing to install a curb between the bua and the sidewalk as well as a hedge and tree at the southeast corner of the bua which will improve pedestrian safety. With the lack of on-street parking available on Southland Drive and Mitchell Avenue, the reduction in parking that would result from incorporating the eight-foot-wide VUA perimeter buffer, as well as the additional interior VUA landscaping and tree canopy, would unreasonably restrict the applicant's use of the property. And then, additionally, the circumstances of this period are not a request of actions taken by the applicant subsequent to the adoption of the zoning ordinance. And then this recommendation of approval is made subject to the following conditions. First, approval of the landscape variances should not adversely affect the public health, safety, or welfare, nor should it create a hazard or nuisance to the public. The subject property is operated for over 60 years. Wait, sorry, I'm reading the same part again. Provided the Planning Commission and the Urban County Council approved the requested zone change to the B1 zone. Otherwise, the requested variances should be null and void. Second, the development shall be constructed in accordance with the approved final development plan. or as amended by the Planning Commission. Third, all necessary permits shall be obtained from the Division of Planning, Traffic Engineering, Engineering, and Building Inspection prior to construction occupancy. And then finally, action of the Planning Commission shall be noted on the development plan for the subject property. So if you all have any questions about the amended variances, I can answer those now. Thank you very much. Do we have any questions on the amended variances? Seeing none, thanks. Mr. Barrett? Good afternoon. I'm Tony Barrett here on behalf of Fox South LLC. I really don't have anything to add. So if there's any questions, I'll try to answer as well. Any questions from Mr. Barrett? Yes, sir, Mr. McClendon. Well, I realize you're doing this at the request of staff, but I'm just sort of the curb that you're putting in, except for in the corner, that's just going to be sticking. The sidewalk and parking lot are basically at the same grade, so that's just going to be sticking up all around. Yeah, just like a wheel stop. Yeah, a continuous wheel stop. Great. So we'll just have something for people to trip over there, I guess, at the request of us. they shouldn't be walking across there anyway they should use the crosswalks oh yes here's a question does that curb extend over the entrance on mitchell as well or does it break there for cars yeah it stops short of the entrances okay any other questions if not thank you mr barrett all right thank you Okay. Do we have any commissioner comment or question before the floor is open for motion of recommendation to the Planning Commission? Mr. McClure. I recommend to approve the variances as requested by the applicant and for the reasons provided by staff for the Fox South PLN MAR 26-11 zone change. Thank you. Mr. Forrester, did you second? Second. Okay. Thank you very much. and this is a recommendation to recommend approval to the Planning Commission on the variances. Am I right? Did we already recommend approval on the Zoom show? Yes, that's correct. Great. Is there any discussion on that motion? If not, as you support the motion, please raise your right hand. Okay, that's unanimous. Thank you. So that was the only item on today's agenda, Daniel? Yes, that's correct. So for the record, it took 11 minutes instead of 7, so staff apologizes for the four additional minutes. alrighty thank you everyone and a reminder we do have the Planning Commission Solar Work Group is meeting on June 9th at 10am in council chambers for those interested in attending thank you all very much without objection we are adjourned I'm from the past. I guess I'll stay here as long as I can last. The whistle's still blowing, but the train is gone Ain't no wheels gonna take me from my home Where the sidewalk ends, when the road begins We said goodbye on a cold, dark night I'm not afraid to go, you bet I'm not Where the sidewalk ends, you left the line guitar solo You left the light. Where the sidewalk ends and the road begins. We said goodbye on a cold, dark night. I'm not afraid to go. You bet I'm not. Where the sidewalk ends. You left the light. Where the sidewalk ends. You left the light. Where the sidewalk ends. You left alive Some people stay far away from the door If there's a chance of it opening up They hear a voice in the hall outside And hope that it just passes by Some people live with the fear of a touch In the anger of having been a fool They will not listen to anyone So nobody tells them a lie I know you're only protecting yourself I know you're thinking of somebody else Someone who hurt you but I'm not a bug Making up for the love you've been denying You could ever feel I'm not above doing anything To restore your faith if I can Some people see through the eyes of the old Before they ever get a look at the young I'm only willing to hear you cry Because I am an innocent man I am an innocent man Oh yes I am Some people say they will never believe Another promise they hear in the dark Because they only remember too well They heard somebody tell them before Some people sleep all alone every night Instead of taking a lover to bed Some people find that it's easier to hate than to wait anymore I know you don't want to hear what I say I know you're gonna keep turning away But I've been there and if I can survive I can keep you alive I'm not above going through it again I'm not above being cool for a while If you're cruel to me, I understand Some people run from a possible fight Some people figure they can never win And although this is a fight, I can lose The accused is an innocent man I am an innocent man Oh yes I am an innocent man You know you only hurt yourself out of spite I guess you'd rather be a martyr tonight That's your decision but I'm not low Anybody I know If there's a chance of resurrecting a love I'm not above going back to the start To find out where the heartache began Some people hope for a miracle cure Some people just accept the world as it is I'm not willing to lay down and die Because I am an innocent man I am an innocent man Oh yes I am an innocent man Thank you. You managed to make ends meet. Who finds the money when you pay the rent? Did you think that money was heaven sent? Friday night arrives without a suitcase. Sunday morning creeping like a nun. Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlegs. See how they run. Lady Madonna, baby at your breast. Wonders how you managed to feed the red. See how they run. Lady Madonna lying on the bed. Listen to the music playing in your head. Tuesday afternoon is never ending. Wednesday morning papers didn't come. Thursday night your stockings needed mending See how they run Lady Madonna, children at your feet Wonder how you managed to make ends meet I can't get no satisfaction I can get no satisfaction Cause I tried, and I tried And I tried, and I tried I can get no I can get no When I'm driving in my car When a man comes on the radio It's telling me more, no That's all you need Is that information Supposed to find my imagination I can't get no No, no, no Hey, hey, hey That's what I say I can't get no satisfaction I can't get no satisfaction Cause I tried, I tried, I tried, I tried I can't get no, I can't get no When I'm watching my TV And a man comes on and tells me How white my shirt's to be But he can't be a man Cause he doesn't smoke The same cigarettes as me I think it's no I don't know Hey, hey, hey That's what I say I can't get no satisfaction I can't get no good reaction Cause I tried, and I tried, and I tried, but I tried I can't get no, I can't get no When I'm riding around the road And I'm doing this and I'm signing back And I'm trying to make some good Tell me, baby, better come back Maybe next week, can't you see I'm off, I lose the street I can't get no, no, no, no Hey, that's what I say I can't get no I can't get no I can't get no No satisfaction No satisfaction No satisfaction No satisfaction. What goes up must come down. Spinning wheel got to go round. Talking about your troubles, it's a crying sin Ride a painted pony, let the spinning wheel spin You got no money and you, you got no home Spinning wheels all alone Talking about your troubles and you, you never learn Ride a painted pony, let the spinning wheel turn Did you find the directing sign on the straight and narrow highway? Would you mind a reflecting sign? Just let it shine within your mind And show you the color