Urban County Council - Zone Change Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government held a Special Council Meeting on April 18, 2017, at 5:00 PM in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice-Mayor Kay presiding. The meeting focused on a single agenda item regarding a zoning map amendment for properties located at 478 and 480 Squires Road. During the proceedings, the council heard from 3 public commenters and conducted 3 votes related to the zoning matter. The zoning map amendment was ultimately approved by the council.

Attendance

The following members were present at the April 18, 2017 meeting:

Present: • Kay • Lamb • Moloney • Mossotti • Plomin • Scutchfield • Stinnett • Bledsoe • F. Brown • Evans • Farmer • Gibbs • Higgins

Absent: • J. Brown • Henson

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 13 members were present and 2 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council considered three motions related to a zoning map amendment for properties at 478 and 480 Squires Road.

First Motion - Withdrawn 10:49 Councilmember Scutchfield motioned to approve a zoning map amendment from Agricultural Urban (A-U) zone to Single Family Residential (R-1D zone) for the properties, with conditions including a 75-foot buffer and single-family homes. The motion was seconded by Gibbs but was subsequently withdrawn before a vote could be taken.

Second Motion - Failed 11:14 Scutchfield then motioned to approve the zoning map amendment as approved by the Planning Commission with amendments, including a 75-foot buffer and 400 units. Gibbs seconded the motion. The motion failed on a roll call vote of 3 ayes to 10 nays.

Voting in favor: Kay, Scutchfield, Gibbs Voting against: Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Higgins

Third Motion - Passed 11:14 Farmer motioned to approve PLN MAR 16-00016 with amendments, including conditions for 451 units and a 35-foot buffer. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 8 ayes to 5 nays.

Voting in favor: Kay, Lamb, Mossotti, Plomin, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Evans, Gibbs Voting against: Moloney, Bledsoe, F. Brown, Farmer, Higgins

The final approved motion represented a compromise with increased unit density (451 units versus the previously proposed 400) but a reduced buffer requirement (35 feet versus 75 feet).

Public Comment

During the public comment period, three residents addressed the meeting to express concerns about a proposed development and its environmental impact 6:58.

Suzanne Bhatt spoke first, emphasizing the critical importance of protecting the existing tree buffer around the peninsula. She highlighted how the tree buffer serves as a vital shield for the neighborhood, protecting residents from both noise and light pollution that could result from development activities.

Ramesh Bhatt followed with specific concerns about the tree removal process and environmental restoration. He expressed worry about the use of mechanical equipment for tree removal operations and noted the apparent lack of concrete replanting plans to restore the natural buffer once construction activities are completed.

Walter Gaffield concluded the public comment session by voicing his opposition to the proposed development. Gaffield cited broader environmental concerns and advocated for the establishment of a conservation buffer to protect the area's natural resources and maintain the ecological integrity of the peninsula.

All three speakers focused their comments on environmental protection themes, particularly the preservation of existing tree coverage and the need for adequate buffers between development and residential areas. The consistent message from the public commenters centered on protecting the natural landscape and ensuring that any development activities include proper environmental safeguards and restoration measures.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that drew substantial community opposition.

Zoning Map Amendment for Squires Road

A proposed zoning map amendment for Squires Road became the focal point of community disagreement during the meeting. The zoning change faced significant opposition from community members who raised multiple concerns about the potential impacts of the proposed development.

Community members voiced objections centered on three primary areas: - Environmental impacts of the proposed development - Increased traffic concerns for the Squires Road area - Issues related to development density and its effects on the neighborhood character

The opposition demonstrated the community's active engagement in local zoning decisions and highlighted residents' concerns about how development changes might affect their area. Community members participated in the meeting to express their views on the proposed amendment, making their opposition to the zoning change clear to the governing body.

The nature and extent of community opposition suggests this was a well-organized effort by residents to influence the zoning decision. The concerns raised about environmental impacts, traffic, and density reflect common issues that arise when communities face potential zoning changes that could alter neighborhood characteristics or increase development intensity.

[Note: Specific timestamp information and the final outcome of this contested item were not available in the provided meeting data.]

Zoning Map Amendment for 478 and 480 Squires Road

5:00

The council considered a zoning map amendment for properties located at 478 and 480 Squires Road. The proposed ordinance would change the current zoning designation from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to a split zoning of Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) and High Density Apartment (R-4).

Key speakers during the discussion included Kay, Scutchfield, Gibbs, and Farmer. The council members examined the merits of transitioning these agricultural properties to residential zoning classifications that would allow for different types of housing development.

The R-3 Planned Neighborhood Residential zoning would permit moderate-density residential development, while the R-4 High Density Apartment designation would allow for higher-density multi-family housing options. This dual zoning approach suggests the properties may be developed with varying residential densities across the parcels.

The council ultimately approved the zoning map amendment, allowing the properties at 478 and 480 Squires Road to move forward with residential development under the new R-3 and R-4 zoning classifications.