Planning Commission Zoning Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on February 25, 2010, at 1:32 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 Chair Frank Penn. The Commission worked through a five-item agenda that included the approval of meeting minutes, two zone change requests, and two development plans — all five items were approved by the end of the session. Over the course of the meeting, the Commission took 6 votes and heard 2 public comments. Items addressed included a zone change request by WWM, LLC, Ausbrook Polo, LLC, and Polo I, LLC; a development plan for Hamburg East; a zone change request by Dennis Anderson; and a development plan for the Anderson 2 Subdivision.

Attendance

The following 11 members were present at the February 25, 2010 Commission meeting:

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

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

• Minutes Approval 9:12: Patrick Brewer moved, seconded by Carolyn Richardson, to approve the minutes from the January 28, 2010 meeting. The motion passed unanimously, 11–0, with all members voting in favor: Patrick Brewer, Marie Copeland, Mike Cravens, Ed Holmes, Mike Owens, Derek Paulsen, Frank Penn, Carolyn Richardson, Lynn Roche-Phillips, Joan Whitman, and William Wilson.

• MAR 2009-17 – Zone Change Request (WWM, LLC; Ausbrook Polo, LLC & Polo I, LLC) 1:46:47: A first motion, made by Mike Owens and seconded by Lynn Roche-Phillips, failed on a roll call vote of 4–7. Voting in favor: Patrick Brewer, Marie Copeland, Mike Cravens, and Ed Holmes. Voting against: Mike Owens, Derek Paulsen, Frank Penn, Carolyn Richardson, Lynn Roche-Phillips, Joan Whitman, and William Wilson.

• MAR 2009-17 – Zone Change Request (WWM, LLC; Ausbrook Polo, LLC & Polo I, LLC) 1:49:59: A second motion on the same item, made by Mike Cravens and seconded by Carolyn Richardson, passed 7–4, with approval based on the applicant's findings with deletions. Voting in favor: Patrick Brewer, Marie Copeland, Mike Cravens, Ed Holmes, Mike Owens, Derek Paulsen, and Carolyn Richardson. Voting against: Frank Penn, Lynn Roche-Phillips, Joan Whitman, and William Wilson.

• ZDP 2009-87 – Development Plan for Hamburg East 1:51:04: Mike Cravens moved to approve the development plan, subject to 10 conditions. The motion passed unanimously, 11–0, on a roll call vote with all members voting in favor.

• MAR 2010-1 – Zone Change Request by Dennis Anderson 2:54:21: Mike Owens moved to approve the zone change request. The motion passed unanimously, 11–0, on a roll call vote with all members voting in favor.

• ZDP 2010-3 – Development Plan for Anderson 2 Subdivision 2:54:51: Mike Owens moved to approve the development plan, subject to 13 conditions with a modification to condition 12. The motion passed unanimously, 11–0, on a roll call vote with all members voting in favor.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the Commission during the public comment period.

• John Tucker 2:32:29 raised concerns about the proposed development, focusing on drainage and environmental issues he believed the project would create. Tucker also spoke to the potential impact the development would have on his property.

• Jackie Mitchell 2:36:48 spoke in opposition to the development, citing concerns about road capacity and the effect the project would have on her property.

Both speakers focused their remarks on the local impacts of the proposed development, with particular attention to infrastructure, environmental conditions, and effects on neighboring properties.

Appointments

The Commission took action on one appointment during the February 25, 2010 meeting.

• Chris King was appointed to the Blue Grass Area Development District Regional Planning Council.

Contested Items

Zone Change Request by WWM, LLC; Ausbrook Polo, LLC & Polo I, LLC

This item generated significant division both among commissioners and within the surrounding community.

• Commission split vote: Commissioners were unable to reach easy consensus on the zone change request brought forward by WWM, LLC; Ausbrook Polo, LLC; and Polo I, LLC. An initial motion to disapprove the request failed, indicating that a majority could not agree to outright rejection. A subsequent motion to approve the zone change then passed, but only by a narrow margin — reflecting a commission that remained genuinely divided on the merits of the proposal. [timestamp: not available]

• Community opposition over development impacts: Residents raised concerns about the potential effects of the proposed development on their neighboring properties. The objections centered on three primary issues:
• Drainage: Neighbors expressed worry that the development could worsen existing drainage conditions or create new flooding or runoff problems for adjacent properties.
• Environmental issues: Broader environmental impacts associated with the proposed zone change were also cited as a concern by community members.
• Road capacity: Residents questioned whether the surrounding road infrastructure could adequately handle the increased traffic load that the development would bring.

The combination of a close commission vote and organized community opposition made this the most contested item of the meeting. Despite the objections raised, the zone change request ultimately received approval through the narrow commission majority.

Approval of Minutes

9:12

The Commission reviewed the minutes from its previous meeting, held on January 28, 2010. Patrick Brewer and Carolyn Richardson were among the key speakers during this portion of the meeting. No corrections or amendments were raised by any commissioners, and the minutes were approved as presented.

Zone Change Request by WWM, LLC; Ausbrook Polo, LLC & Polo I, LLC

Agenda Item: MAR 2009-17 1:49:59

The Commission took up a zone change request submitted by WWM, LLC; Ausbrook Polo, LLC; and Polo I, LLC, seeking to rezone property from Agricultural Rural to Community Center and Expansion Area Residential zones.

Key speakers on this item included Rena Wiseman and Bill Lear. The discussion centered on the proposed rezoning, with staff presenting a recommendation of disapproval of the request. Despite the staff's recommendation against the zone change, the Commission engaged in deliberation on the merits of the proposal.

Ultimately, the Commission voted to approve the zone change request, moving forward with the transition from Agricultural Rural zoning to the requested Community Center and Expansion Area Residential designations, contrary to the staff's recommendation.

*Note: The available structured data for this item is limited. For full details on the arguments presented, specific concerns raised, and the vote breakdown, viewers are encouraged to consult the meeting transcript or recording beginning at approximately 1:49:59.*

Development Plan for Hamburg East

1:51:04

The Commission took up agenda item ZDP 2009-87, an ordinance concerning the Development Plan for Hamburg East. Tom Martin was the key speaker on this item, presenting the development plan for the Commission's consideration.

Following the presentation and review, the Commission approved the Development Plan for Hamburg East with conditions.

Zone Change Request by Dennis Anderson

2:54:21

The Commission took up agenda item MAR 2010-1, a zone change request submitted by Dennis Anderson. The request sought to rezone a parcel from Agricultural Rural to Expansion Area Residential-1.

Dick Murphy was the key speaker associated with this item during the meeting.

The Commission approved the zone change request.

Development Plan for Anderson 2 Subdivision

Agenda Item: ZDP 2010-3 2:54:51

The Commission reviewed the development plan for Anderson 2 Subdivision under agenda item ZDP 2010-3. Cheryl Gault was the key speaker presenting on this item.

The development plan was considered as an ordinance before the Commission. Following the presentation and review, the Commission approved the development plan with conditions.

*Note: Detailed information regarding the specific contents of the presentation, any concerns raised during discussion, and the precise conditions attached to the approval are not available in the provided record.*