Planning Commission Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on November 11, 2010, at 1:34 PM in the Council Chambers of the Urban County Government Building, located at 200 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky, with Carolyn Richardson presiding. The meeting addressed three agenda items — the Woodward-Lander Property (Unit 1A, Lot 108, Sec. 2), the Clark Property (Unit 2-A), and the Gess Property (Unit 8) — all of which were approved by the Commission. Over the course of the meeting, 6 motions and votes were taken and 5 public comments were heard.

Attendance

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

• Carolyn Richardson
• Mike Cravens
• Lynn Roche-Phillips
• Marie Copeland
• Mike Owens
• Carla Blanton
• Patrick Brewer
• Eunice Beatty
• Derek Paulsen

Absent: Ed Holmes and William Wilson were not in attendance. No members were recorded as late.

Votes and Decisions

The Commission took six votes during the November 11, 2010 meeting, all of which passed unanimously with 9 ayes and 0 nays.

• Postpone DP 2010-46: L.T. Ruth Property — Motioned by Mike Owens, seconded by Patrick Brewer, the Commission voted unanimously (9–0) to postpone this item to November 18, 2010. 13:37

• Postpone PLAN 2010-129F: Sunny Slope Farm — Motioned by Lynn Roche-Phillips, seconded by Patrick Brewer, the Commission voted unanimously (9–0) to postpone this item to December 9, 2010. 14:07

• Approve PLAN 2010-114F: Woodward-Lander Property — Motioned by Mike Cravens, seconded by Eunice Beatty, the Commission voted unanimously (9–0) to approve this item subject to the revised conditions listed by staff. 25:17

• Approve PLAN 2010-117F: Clark Property, Unit 2-A — Motioned by Mike Cravens, seconded by Derek Paulsen, the Commission voted unanimously (9–0) to approve this item with the condition that the 20' TPA conflict with the 20' sanitary sewer and utility easement be resolved. 46:37

• Postpone PLAN 2010-119F, 120F, 121F: Clark Property Units 2C, 2D, 2E — Motioned by Patrick Brewer, seconded by Mike Cravens, the Commission voted unanimously (9–0) to postpone these three items to November 18, 2010. 50:31

• Approve DP 2010-15: Gess Property, Unit 8 — Motioned by Mike Cravens, this item was decided by roll call vote. All nine commissioners voted in favor (9–0), subject to 15 revised staff recommendations. Voting aye: Carolyn Richardson, Mike Cravens, Lynn Roche-Phillips, Marie Copeland, Mike Owens, Carla Blanton, Patrick Brewer, Eunice Beatty, and Derek Paulsen. 3:10:41

Public Comment

Five residents addressed the Commission during the public comment period, all speaking in opposition to the proposed Gess Property development.

• Lori Pasquarello 1:33:01 opened public comment by expressing dissatisfaction with the development plan, citing a lack of recreational facilities and community spaces in the proposal. She also raised concerns about the broader impact that apartments would have on the surrounding neighborhood.

• Brian King 1:44:01 focused on safety and security issues related to the proposed apartment complex, specifically highlighting problems with elevation, lighting, and the development's proximity to a school.

• Anita Sanford 1:51:37 spoke to the development's impact on community character, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a community feel in the area. She also expressed fears that the project could result in Section 8 housing.

• Carol McKee 1:53:16 opposed the development on the grounds of traffic and safety, particularly concerning the effect increased traffic could have on school children in the area. She also raised the potential for decreased property values as a consequence of the project.

• Miriam McGuire 2:14:41 raised environmental concerns, including deforestation and development within a floodplain. She urged the Commission to consider a more environmentally friendly approach to the project.

Across all five speakers, recurring themes included the safety of children near the school, the character and cohesion of the surrounding community, and the physical and environmental suitability of the proposed site.

Contested Items

Gess Property Development

The proposed development of the Gess Property generated significant community opposition during the meeting. Residents voiced strong objections to a proposed apartment complex, raising concerns across several areas including safety, community integration, and environmental impacts.

The disagreement centered on whether the apartment complex was appropriate for the location, with members of the public presenting arguments against the project on multiple grounds. Safety was identified as a key concern among those opposing the development, alongside questions about how the complex would integrate with the surrounding community. Environmental impacts of the proposed project were also cited as a source of opposition.

The extracted meeting record does not indicate the specific outcome of this item or identify the individual speakers involved in the debate.

Woodward-Lander Property, Unit 1A, Lot 108, Sec. 2

Agenda Item: PLAN 2010-114F 25:17

The Commission took up a discussion item concerning the Woodward-Lander Property, Unit 1A, Lot 108, Section 2. The proposal before the Commission sought to subdivide a single existing lot into six lots intended for a townhouse development.

Key speakers on this item included Tom Martin and Tom Lambdin. Staff presented the plan and recommended approval, contingent on the resolution of certain cleanup issues identified during review. The nature of the cleanup items was characterized as housekeeping in scope rather than substantive concerns with the overall proposal.

Following the presentation and discussion, the Commission approved the plan.

Clark Property, Unit 2-A

Agenda Item: PLAN 2010-117F 46:37

The Commission took up PLAN 2010-117F, concerning the Clark Property, Unit 2-A. The central issue before the Commission was a conflict between a tree protection area and a sanitary sewer easement on the property, which required resolution before the plan could move forward.

Key speakers on this item included Cheryl Gallt and Al Gross. Staff presented the item and recommended approval subject to conditions, reflecting the need to address the competing land use designations — specifically, reconciling the requirements of the tree protection area with the demands of the sanitary sewer easement running through the same portion of the property.

Following the presentation and discussion, the Commission approved the item in accordance with the staff recommendation.

Gess Property, Unit 8

Agenda Item: DP 2010-15 3:10:41

The Commission took up Development Plan DP 2010-15 for the Gess Property, Unit 8, which proposed the construction of 336 apartment units and 22 residential lots.

Key speakers on this item included Bill Sallee and Rena Wiseman. Staff presented the development plan and recommended approval, having determined that the proposal was in compliance with the expansion area master plan.

The Commission ultimately approved the development plan.