Board of Adjustment Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Board of Adjustment convened on February 28, 2014, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chambers at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Kathryn Moore presiding as the meeting officer. The board addressed two agenda items during the session, focusing on conditional use permit matters affecting local institutions. The meeting included one public comment period, allowing community input on the matters under consideration. The board took two formal votes during the proceedings, resulting in one item being postponed and another receiving approval. Overall, the session dealt with zoning and land use issues for religious and educational institutions within the urban county jurisdiction.

Attendance

The following Board members were present at the February 28, 2014 meeting:

• Kathryn Moore
• Joseph Smith
• Janice Meyer
• James Griggs
• Noel White

The following Board members were absent:

• Barry Stumbo
• Thomas Glover

No Board members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Board of Adjustment considered two conditional use permit applications during the February 28, 2014 meeting.

Case C-2014-10 - Lexington Friends Meeting Amendment 2:00 James Griggs made a motion to postpone the request to amend an existing conditional use permit for Lexington Friends Meeting, seconded by Noel White. The motion to postpone passed unanimously with all five board members voting in favor: Kathryn Moore, Joseph Smith, Janice Meyer, James Griggs, and Noel White. No members voted against or abstained from the decision.

Case C-2014-9 - Transylvania University Dormitories 10:00 James Griggs moved to approve the request for a conditional use permit for Transylvania University to construct dormitories and parking, with Janice Meyer providing the second. The motion passed unanimously 5-0, with all board members voting in favor: Kathryn Moore, Joseph Smith, Janice Meyer, James Griggs, and Noel White. No members voted against or abstained.

The approval for Transylvania University came with five conditions attached, including a requirement for a typo correction and a change in the number of years allowed for the project build-out phase. The specific details of all five conditions were incorporated into the final approval.

Both votes demonstrated unanimous support from the five-member board, with no dissenting votes or abstentions recorded on either matter. The postponement of the Lexington Friends Meeting case suggests the board required additional information or time to properly consider that application before making a final determination.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the Board regarding ongoing development concerns in the area.

Patti Scott spoke to the Board about issues related to Transylvania University dormitory construction 15:00. Scott raised multiple concerns about the project's impact on neighboring properties, including:

• The height of the proposed buildings and their proximity to her property
• Potential issues with outdoor lighting from the development
• Construction hours and their effect on the surrounding neighborhood

Scott's comments highlighted community concerns about how the university's expansion plans might affect adjacent residential areas, particularly regarding building scale, lighting impacts, and construction scheduling.

Contested Items

The February 28, 2014 Board meeting featured one contested item regarding Transylvania University's dormitory construction project.

Transylvania University Dormitory Construction

Community member Patti Scott raised concerns about the university's dormitory construction project and its impact on neighboring properties. Scott specifically cited issues with construction noise and the proximity of the new dormitory to her property as primary concerns affecting residents in the area.

The nature of Scott's opposition centered on the direct effects the construction was having on nearby homeowners, suggesting that the building project was creating disruptions for the surrounding community. Her testimony represented broader community concerns about how the university's expansion plans were affecting residential neighbors.

The meeting records do not indicate a specific resolution or outcome regarding Scott's concerns about the dormitory construction project during this particular Board session.

Lexington Friends Meeting Conditional Use Permit Amendment

2:00

The Board considered agenda item C-2014-10, a request to amend an existing conditional use permit for the Lexington Friends Meeting. The proposed amendment would allow childcare services for 80 or fewer children and include the addition of a play area and a handicap accessible entry to the facility.

Chris Westover served as the key speaker presenting this conditional use permit amendment request to the Board.

The item was scheduled for discussion during the meeting, indicating the Board intended to review the details of the proposed changes to the existing permit conditions. The amendment represents modifications to the current approved uses at the Lexington Friends Meeting location.

However, the Board ultimately decided to postpone consideration of this agenda item. No details were provided in the available materials regarding the specific reasons for the postponement or when the item might be rescheduled for future consideration.

The conditional use permit amendment would have allowed the religious organization to expand their services to include structured childcare operations while also improving accessibility and outdoor recreational facilities for children. The postponement means these proposed changes will need to be reviewed at a subsequent Board meeting before any decision can be made on the permit modification request.

Transylvania University Conditional Use Permit

10:00

The Board considered agenda item C-2014-9, a request for a conditional use permit to allow Transylvania University to construct dormitories and parking facilities accessory to a school for academic instruction.

Key speakers during the discussion included Chris Westover and Patti Scott, who presented details about the proposed development project. The conditional use permit would enable the university to expand its residential facilities to accommodate students and provide necessary parking infrastructure to support the academic campus.

The request involved construction of new dormitory buildings that would serve as student housing, along with associated parking areas. As an educational institution, Transylvania University required the conditional use permit to proceed with these facilities that are considered accessory uses to the primary academic instruction function of the school.

Following discussion of the proposal, the Board approved the conditional use permit request, allowing Transylvania University to move forward with their plans for the dormitory and parking construction project.