Council Planning and Public Works Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Planning & Public Works Committee met on April 17, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., with Farmer presiding as Chair. The committee addressed four agenda items during the session, taking four motions and votes. Two members of the public provided comments during the meeting.

The committee approved three items: the 2012 Comprehensive Plan Goals & Objectives, a proposal to initiate a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA) regarding Adult Day Care Definition, and a matter concerning a Fencing Issue. One agenda item, Items Referred to Committee, was deferred to a future meeting.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on April 17, 2012:

• Farmer
• Ellinger
• Gorton
• Kay
• Ford
• Blues
• Lawless
• Beard
• Martin
• Henson
• Benningfield

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included four motions, all of which passed.

2012 Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives 1:01:16 A motion by Gorton to forward the 2012 Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives as drafted by the work group to the full council for approval passed by voice vote.

Dashboard Issues 1:03:02 A motion by Gorton, seconded by Kay, to forward the dashboard issues to the full council for approval and to the Planning Commission for consideration passed by voice vote.

Adult Daycare Definition Zoning Text Amendment 1:11:15 A motion by Ford, seconded by Kay, to forward the adult daycare definition zoning text amendment to the council for initiation passed by voice vote.

Revised Fencing Height Text Amendment 1:35:17 A motion by Blues, seconded by Kay, to forward the revised fencing height text amendment to the full council for adoption passed by roll call vote with 8 ayes and 2 nays.

Voting in favor were: Farmer, Ellinger, Gorton, Kay, Ford, Lawless, Henson, and Benningfield.

Voting against were: Beard and Martin.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the committee regarding land availability and economic development opportunities.

Scotty Basler 13:51

Former mayor Scotty Basler urged the committee to reconsider the prohibition on expanding the Urban Service Area. He emphasized the need to allow expansion to support job creation, citing a shortage of available industrial land in the region. Basler noted that he had received letters from economic development leaders supporting the need for additional developable sites to attract businesses and employment opportunities.

Knox von Nagel 52:55

Knox von Nagel provided data on manufacturing land availability, noting that Fayette County currently has 1,500 acres of vacant employment sector land. He highlighted the strategic opportunity to attract small-scale manufacturers to the region through the BEAM initiative. Von Nagel referenced available land data in surrounding counties as part of his discussion of regional strategy for economic development.

Contested Items

Urban Service Area Boundary Expansion

A significant debate occurred during the meeting regarding whether to allow future expansion of the Urban Service Area for economic development. The discussion centered on balancing industrial growth with the preservation of Lexington's unique character and rural areas.

Former Mayor Basler advocated for flexibility in expanding the Urban Service Area, supporting the potential for future economic development opportunities. Council Members Martin and Blues presented opposing views, raising concerns about how expansion might affect the community's identity and rural preservation efforts.

The nature of this discussion was characterized as a heated exchange, reflecting the depth of disagreement among participants about the appropriate direction for the city's growth and development policies.

2012 Comprehensive Plan Goals & Objectives

The committee reviewed and discussed the draft 2012 Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives during this agenda item 6:36.

Development Process

The goals and objectives document was developed by a workgroup under the direction of Vice Mayor Gorton. The workgroup refined the initial 19-page draft into a more concise 5.5-page version while incorporating feedback from the public and adding new elements to the plan.

Document Revisions

The refined document includes additions such as public art and tourism promotion initiatives, reflecting input received during the development process.

Committee Action

The committee unanimously approved the draft 2012 Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives. Key speakers in the discussion included Farmer, Gorton, Basler, and von Nagel.

In addition to approving the goals and objectives document itself, the committee also approved forwarding associated dashboard issues to the full council for further consideration.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved without objection, allowing the comprehensive plan goals and objectives to move forward in the process.

Adult Day Care Definition Initiate ZOTA

Council Member Ford introduced a proposed zoning text amendment to define "adult daycare center" as a conditional use. The amendment aims to ensure that neighborhood notification and public hearings are required for such facilities within the city.

Key Speakers

The discussion involved Council Member Ford, along with speakers Salee and King.

Proposal and Discussion

The proposed zoning text amendment would establish a formal definition for adult daycare centers and classify them as conditional uses. This classification would trigger required neighborhood notification procedures and public hearing processes before such facilities could be established in residential areas.

Committee Action

The committee approved forwarding the proposal to the full council for initiation, moving the amendment forward in the legislative process.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved 1:04:03.

Fencing Issue

Council Member Blues reintroduced a revised fencing height text amendment during this agenda item 1:11:47. The proposed amendment aims to improve sight distance and safety by limiting front yard fences to four feet in height.

The committee voted to forward the amendment to the full council for further consideration. The vote was not unanimous, with two committee members voting against the proposal.

The amendment was approved for advancement to the full council.

Items Referred to Committee

1:35:48

The committee reviewed its referral list and removed several items that had been acted upon and were ready for full council consideration. Speaker Farmer presented the status of the following items:

• 2012 Comprehensive Plan Goals & Objectives — removed from referral list
• Fencing issue — removed from referral list
• Addressing ordinance — removed from referral list
• Adult daycare ZOTA — removed from referral list

All items were cleared for advancement to full council consideration. The outcome of this agenda item was deferred.