Urban County Council - Zone Change Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government held a meeting on September 12, 2017, at 5:13 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice-Mayor Kay presiding. The meeting addressed one agenda item, Ordinance 0844-17, which was approved by the council. During the session, the council took one vote and heard from four members of the public who provided comments on matters before the body. The meeting focused primarily on the consideration and passage of the single ordinance item on the agenda.

Attendance

The meeting on September 12, 2017 had 10 members present and 5 members absent.

Present: • Vice-Mayor Kay • J. Brown • Evans • Gibbs • Henson • Lamb • Plomin • Scutchfield • Smith • F. Brown

Absent: • Farmer • Moloney • Mossotti • Stinnett • Bledsoe

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted one recorded vote during the September 12, 2017 meeting.

Ordinance 0844-17 9:05 The council voted on an ordinance to change the zoning classification for property located at 2300 Paris Pike from Single Family Residential (R-1B) to Highway Service Business (B-3). Vice Mayor Kay made the motion, which was seconded by Ms. Henson.

The measure passed by a roll call vote of 7-3-0, with the following breakdown:

Voting in favor (7): - J. Brown - Henson - Kay - Lamb - Smith - F. Brown - Scutchfield

Voting against (3): - Evans - Gibbs - Plomin

The approved zoning change includes a conditional restriction requiring a 20-foot tree buffer along the northeast property boundary. This condition was part of the ordinance as passed by the council.

Public Comment

Four community members addressed the board during the public comment period, with speakers divided on a proposed zone change affecting the Paris Pike corridor 0:00.

Morris Floyd spoke in opposition to the zone change, expressing concerns about the potential impact of the proposed development on the local horse farm industry. Floyd emphasized the importance of maintaining the scenic quality of Paris Pike and warned that the development could negatively affect the area's agricultural character 0:00.

Adam Kirk raised specific concerns about traffic impacts, criticizing the adequacy of the existing traffic study conducted for the proposal. Kirk questioned the feasibility of adding a traffic signal to address potential congestion issues, suggesting that the current traffic analysis was insufficient to support the development 0:00.

In contrast, Jane Cottrell voiced support for the zone change, arguing that the land in question is not well-suited for agricultural or residential purposes. Cottrell contended that the proposed development would represent a more appropriate use of the property given its characteristics and location 0:00.

Libby Jones focused on the broader historical context of the area, discussing the historical significance of the Paris Pike corridor. Jones emphasized the importance of preserving the corridor's heritage and character, highlighting concerns about how development might affect this historically important transportation route 0:00.

The public comments reflected a clear division in community opinion, with opponents focusing on agricultural preservation, traffic safety, and historical significance, while supporters argued for more practical land use based on the property's limitations for traditional uses.

Contested Items

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

Zone Change for 2300 Paris Pike

The primary point of contention involved a proposed zone change for property located at 2300 Paris Pike. This proposal faced significant opposition from local residents and horse farm owners who expressed concerns about the potential impact on the Paris Pike corridor.

The opposition centered on community members' worries about how the zone change would affect the character and integrity of the Paris Pike area. Horse farm owners were particularly vocal in their concerns, suggesting that the proposed changes could negatively impact the agricultural and equestrian nature of the corridor that defines much of the region's identity.

Local residents joined horse farm owners in voicing their opposition to the proposal, indicating broad community concern about the potential ramifications of approving the zone change. The opposition appeared to focus on preserving the existing character of the Paris Pike corridor and preventing development that might alter the area's current agricultural and rural residential nature.

The structured data does not indicate the final outcome of this contested item or provide specific details about the nature of the proposed zone change, the number of speakers who addressed the issue, or the specific arguments presented by either supporters or opponents of the proposal.

Ordinance 0844-17

9:05

The council considered Ordinance 0844-17, which would rezone property at 2300 Paris Pike from Single Family Residential (R-1B) to Highway Service Business (B-3).

Vice-Mayor Kay led the discussion of this zoning change request. Key participants in the deliberation included Traci Wade, Richard Murphy, and Hank Graddy, who provided input on the proposed rezoning.

The ordinance would allow the property to transition from residential use to commercial highway service business use, which typically permits activities such as automotive services, retail establishments, and other businesses that serve highway traffic.

Following discussion among the council members and input from the speakers, the ordinance was approved, allowing the zoning change to proceed for the Paris Pike property.