Planning Commission Subdivision Items

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on April 13, 2017, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chambers of the Urban County Government Building at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Bill Wilson presiding as the presiding officer. The commission addressed four agenda items during the session, including development proposals for The Greathouse Property (The Village at Great Acres), Lexington Mall (Crossfit Maximus), Boone Creek Outdoors, and Taylormade Real Estate, LLC.

The meeting resulted in mixed outcomes for the development proposals under consideration. Two items were approved by the commission: Boone Creek Outdoors and Taylormade Real Estate, LLC. However, The Greathouse Property (The Village at Great Acres) amendment was withdrawn, while the Lexington Mall (Crossfit Maximus) amendment #21 was postponed for future consideration.

Throughout the proceedings, the commission conducted five motions and votes to address the various agenda items and procedural matters. The meeting also included input from the public, with two public comments heard during the session, allowing community members to voice their perspectives on the development proposals before the commission.

Attendance

The following members were present at the April 13, 2017 meeting:

• Bill Wilson
• Carolyn Richardson
• Karen Mundy
• Carolyn Plumlee
• Joseph Smith
• Will Berkley
• Mike Owens
• Frank Penn
• David Drake
• Mike Cravens

Absent: Patrick Brewer

Late arrivals: None

Ten members were present for the meeting, with one member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The commission took action on five items during the meeting, with most receiving unanimous approval.

PLN-MJSUB-17-00023: The Greathouse Property (The Village at Great Acres) (AMD) 2:00 Mike Owens motioned to withdraw the application, seconded by Carolyn Plumlee. The withdrawal was approved unanimously with all 10 commissioners voting in favor: Bill Wilson, Carolyn Richardson, Karen Mundy, Carolyn Plumlee, Joseph Smith, Will Berkley, Mike Owens, Frank Penn, David Drake, and Mike Cravens.

PLN-MJDP-17-00006: Lexington Mall (Crossfit Maximus) (AMD #21) 5:00 Frank Penn motioned to postpone the item, seconded by Carolyn Richardson. The postponement to the May 11, 2017 meeting was approved unanimously 10-0 with the same commissioners voting in favor.

PLN-MJSUB-17-00013: Covey Ridge Development Co. (Lot 1) (AMD) 10:00 Karen Mundy motioned for approval, seconded by Carolyn Richardson. The application was approved unanimously 10-0 with 13 conditions attached.

PLN-MJDP-17-00025: Boone Creek Outdoors 45:00 Mike Owens motioned for approval, seconded by David Drake. The application passed 9-1 on a roll call vote. Voting in favor were Bill Wilson, Carolyn Richardson, Karen Mundy, Joseph Smith, Will Berkley, Mike Owens, Frank Penn, David Drake, and Mike Cravens. Carolyn Plumlee cast the sole dissenting vote. Approval included conditions prohibiting the trailering of horses.

PLN-MAR-17-00006: Taylormade Real Estate, LLC 120:00 Will Berkley motioned for approval, seconded by Karen Mundy. The application passed 9-1 on a roll call vote with the same voting pattern as the previous item - Carolyn Plumlee again voting against while the other nine commissioners voted in favor. The approval included a conditional zoning restriction.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the board during the public comment period of the April 13, 2017 meeting.

Alex Martin spoke regarding Boone Creek Outdoors 40:00. Martin expressed concerns about platforms located on Mr. Park's property and the potential for these structures to be reconnected in the future. Martin emphasized the importance of establishing clear boundaries and ensuring safety measures are in place related to these platforms.

Kevin Kidd addressed traffic concerns related to the Taylormade Real Estate, LLC project 130:00. Kidd raised specific concerns about increased traffic flow that would result from the development, particularly the impact on Cornwall Drive. He highlighted the lack of sidewalks in the area as a safety concern for children in the neighborhood, noting that the additional traffic from the proposed project could create hazardous conditions for pedestrians.

Both speakers focused on safety-related issues affecting their community, with Martin addressing property boundary and structural safety concerns, while Kidd emphasized pedestrian safety and traffic management issues related to new development.

Contested Items

Two significant issues generated substantial community opposition and heated debate during the April 13, 2017 meeting.

Boone Creek Outdoors Platform Removal

The most contentious discussion centered on platforms located on Mr. Park's property associated with Boone Creek Outdoors. Community members voiced strong concerns about these existing platforms and expressed particular worry about the potential for them to be reconnected in the future. The discussion became heated as residents and officials debated the implications of the platforms and their impact on the surrounding area. The specific nature of the platforms and their intended use appeared to be a source of ongoing community tension, though the exact outcome of this discussion was not clearly resolved during the meeting.

Taylormade Real Estate, LLC Traffic Safety Concerns

The second major point of contention involved a proposed childcare center by Taylormade Real Estate, LLC. Local residents raised significant concerns about the potential increase in traffic that would result from the facility and the associated safety risks this could pose to the community. The opposition focused on how additional vehicle traffic from parents dropping off and picking up children could create hazardous conditions in the area.

This issue proved particularly divisive among decision-makers, ultimately resulting in a split vote. The close nature of the vote reflected the genuine disagreement within the governing body about how to balance the community's need for childcare services against residents' legitimate safety concerns about increased traffic volume and potential risks to pedestrians and other drivers in the vicinity of the proposed facility.

Both contested items highlighted the ongoing tension between development interests and community concerns about safety and quality of life impacts.

The Greathouse Property (The Village at Great Acres) (AMD)

2:00

The agenda item for The Greathouse Property (The Village at Great Acres) with identifier PLN-MJSUB-17-00023 was withdrawn by the applicant before any substantive discussion took place.

Richard Murphy addressed the matter, explaining that the applicant had chosen to withdraw the item. The withdrawal was prompted by the submission of a minor subdivision plat that effectively addressed the issues that were originally intended to be resolved through this agenda item.

No debate or detailed presentation occurred regarding the specifics of the property development or the proposed amendments, as the withdrawal eliminated the need for further consideration by the planning body. The item was removed from active consideration without any formal vote or extended discussion of the merits of the original proposal.

The outcome represents an administrative resolution where the applicant found an alternative path forward through the minor subdivision process rather than proceeding with the originally planned approach for The Village at Great Acres development.

Lexington Mall (Crossfit Maximus) (AMD #21)

5:00

The Planning Commission considered agenda item PLN-MJDP-17-00006 regarding the Lexington Mall (Crossfit Maximus) development plan amendment. Rich Murphy served as the key speaker for this item.

The agenda item was postponed during the meeting to provide the applicant with additional time to prepare the necessary information required for the development plan review. No substantive discussion of the project details took place, as the focus was on allowing adequate preparation time for a more comprehensive presentation at a future meeting.

The Commission's decision to postpone reflects standard practice when applicants need more time to compile required documentation or address preliminary concerns before formal review. This postponement ensures that when the item returns to the Commission, all necessary materials will be available for thorough consideration.

The item will be rescheduled for a future Planning Commission meeting once the applicant has completed their preparation of the required development plan information.

Boone Creek Outdoors

45:00

The commission reviewed agenda item PLN-MJDP-17-00025 regarding Boone Creek Outdoors on Mr. Park's property. Dick Murphy served as the key speaker for this discussion item.

The primary focus of the discussion centered on the specific location of platforms planned for the property and the establishment of appropriate boundaries. Commissioners emphasized the importance of implementing clear safety measures as part of the development proposal.

The commission examined the positioning of the proposed platforms and discussed how they would integrate with the existing property layout. Safety considerations were a significant component of the review, with commissioners seeking assurance that proper precautions would be incorporated into the final design.

Boundary delineation emerged as another critical aspect of the discussion, with the commission working to ensure that property lines and operational areas would be clearly defined and marked. This appeared to be essential for both operational clarity and regulatory compliance.

Following their review and discussion of the location specifications, boundary requirements, and safety protocols, the commission reached a decision on the proposal. The item was approved, indicating that the commissioners found the presented plans for Boone Creek Outdoors to be satisfactory and in compliance with applicable requirements.

The approval suggests that Mr. Park's proposal met the commission's standards for platform placement, boundary establishment, and safety implementation, allowing the Boone Creek Outdoors project to move forward as presented.

Taylormade Real Estate, LLC

120:00 The commission reviewed agenda item PLN-MAR-17-00006 regarding Taylormade Real Estate, LLC's application for a zone map amendment to establish a childcare center.

Nicauragua Olson served as a key speaker during the discussion of this proposal. The commission's deliberations centered on the potential impacts of the proposed childcare facility on the surrounding area.

Traffic concerns emerged as a primary focus of the discussion, with commissioners examining how the childcare center would affect vehicle flow and parking in the neighborhood. The commission also evaluated the broader neighborhood impact that the facility might have on the surrounding residential area.

The zone map amendment would allow for the operation of a childcare center at the proposed location, representing a change in the permitted uses for the property. Commissioners weighed the benefits of providing childcare services to the community against potential concerns raised about the facility's integration into the existing neighborhood.

Following their review and discussion of the application, traffic considerations, and neighborhood impact assessments, the commission voted to approve the zone map amendment for Taylormade Real Estate, LLC. This approval allows the applicant to proceed with their plans to establish the childcare center at the designated location.

The approval represents the commission's determination that the proposed childcare facility would be compatible with the surrounding area and that any traffic or neighborhood concerns could be adequately addressed through the development process.