Planning Commission Zoning Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on August 27, 2009, at 1:31 PM in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the LFUCG Government Center, located at 200 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky. The meeting was presided over by Carolyn Richardson. The Commission worked through four agenda items in total, approving all items brought before it, including the minutes from a prior meeting, a zoning map amendment for Homestead Nursing Center, LLC, an associated development plan for the Homestead Nursing Home property, and an initiation of a zoning ordinance text amendment related to a GIS-based Zoning Atlas. Over the course of the meeting, five motions and votes were taken and two public comments were heard.

Attendance

The following members were present at the August 27, 2009 Commission meeting:

• Patrick Brewer
• Marie Copeland
• Mike Cravens
• Ed Holmes
• Mike Owens
• Derek Paulsen
• Carolyn Richardson
• Lynn Roche-Phillips
• Joan Whitman

Absent: Frank Penn

No members were recorded as late.

Votes and Decisions

The Commission took five votes during the August 27, 2009 meeting.

• Minutes Approval 3:26: Mike Owens moved, and Joan Whitman seconded, approval of the minutes from the July 23, 2009 meeting. The motion passed by voice vote, 9–0.

• MARC2009-10 – Zone Change for Homestead Nursing Center, LLC 1:14:13: Mike Cravens moved, and Joan Whitman seconded, approval of the zone change. The motion passed by voice vote, 7–2. The approval included conditions prohibiting community residences and boarding or lodging houses as uses, and imposing a 25-foot side yard use restriction.

• Conditional Use for Homestead Nursing Center, LLC 1:16:56: Patrick Brewer moved, and Mike Owens seconded, approval of the conditional use. The motion passed by voice vote, 9–0, subject to four conditions listed by staff.

• ZDP2009-52 – Preliminary Development Plan for Homestead Nursing Home Property 1:18:03: Mike Cravens moved, and Joan Whitman seconded, approval of the preliminary development plan. The motion passed by voice vote, 9–0. Conditions required that the plan denote the conditional zoning restrictions and include a six-foot fence adjacent to 1616 Versailles Road.

• Initiation of Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment for GIS-Based Zoning Atlas 1:23:50: Mike Owens moved, and Joan Whitman seconded, initiation of the text amendment. The motion passed by voice vote, 9–0.

All five votes were conducted by voice vote. No roll call votes were recorded, so individual member positions are not available beyond the totals noted above.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the Commission during the public comment period, both expressing opposition to a proposed zoning change affecting the Homestead Nursing Center.

• Joy Kokernot 26:20 spoke against the proposed R-4 zoning designation for the Homestead Nursing Center. She raised several concerns about the potential effects of high-density zoning on the surrounding area, including negative impacts on property values and the aesthetic character of Versailles Road. Kokernot also cited safety concerns related to crime as part of her opposition to the rezoning proposal.

• Dr. Rosa Riggs 35:08 followed with comments echoing those of Kokernot, expressing similar concerns about the proposed zoning changes and their potential impact on the neighborhood.

Both speakers were unified in their opposition to the R-4 zoning proposal, with their comments centering on the effects high-density development could have on the quality and character of the surrounding residential area.

Appointments

The Commission took the following appointment action during the August 27, 2009 meeting:

• Derek Paulsen was appointed to the Urban County Planning Commission.

Contested Items

• Homestead Nursing Center Zoning Change: This item drew community opposition during the August 27, 2009 Commission meeting. Community members raised concerns about the potential impact of high-density zoning on local property values and neighborhood safety. The structured data does not identify specific individuals by name, specify the exact zoning classifications under consideration, or record the outcome of the Commission's deliberations on this matter.

Approval of Minutes

3:26

The Commission took up the approval of minutes from its July 23, 2009 meeting. Mike Owens and Joan Whitman were the key speakers during this portion of the meeting. Following discussion, the Commission approved the minutes from the July 23, 2009 meeting.

Homestead Nursing Center, LLC Zoning Map Amendment

5:01

The Commission considered agenda item MARC2009-10, a zoning map amendment requested by Homestead Nursing Center, LLC. The proposal sought to rezone the subject property from R-2 to R-4, accompanied by a conditional use permit for the operation of a nursing home.

Key speakers on this item included Traci Wade, Bill Sallee, and Bob Cornett. The Commission reviewed the request as presented, with discussion focused on the proposed rezoning and the associated conditional use permit necessary to allow the nursing home use on the property.

The Commission ultimately approved the zoning map amendment from R-2 to R-4 along with the conditional use permit for the nursing home facility.

Homestead Nursing Home Property Development Plan

Agenda Item: ZDP2009-52 1:18:03

The Commission reviewed agenda item ZDP2009-52, the Homestead Nursing Home Property Development Plan, an ordinance concerning the preliminary development plan for the Homestead Nursing Home property.

• Key Speaker: Tom Martin presented or spoke to this item during the meeting.
• Outcome: The Commission approved the preliminary development plan, subject to conditions.

No additional details regarding specific conditions of approval, concerns raised during discussion, or the nature of the proposed development are available from the meeting record.

Initiation of Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment for GIS-based Zoning Atlas

1:22:46

The Commission took up the initiation of a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that would designate the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) Geographic Information System (GIS) as the official Zoning Atlas for Lexington-Fayette County.

Key Speaker: Bill Sallee presented this item to the Commission.

Summary: The proposed text amendment would formally recognize the GIS-based mapping system as the authoritative zoning reference for the county, replacing or supplementing the existing zoning atlas framework with a digital, GIS-driven alternative. This change would align the official zoning record with the modern mapping tools already in use by the county.

Outcome: The Commission approved the initiation of the text amendment. With initiation approved, the amendment would proceed through the standard review process before returning to the Commission for a final decision.