Planning Commission Zoning Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on October 26, 2017, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the LFUCG Government Center at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Bill Wilson presiding as the presiding officer. The commission addressed five agenda items during the session, including four zoning map amendment requests and one procedural amendment regarding subdivision plan processes. The commission took 12 votes throughout the meeting and heard 2 public comments from attendees.

The meeting resulted in significant zoning decisions, with the commission approving three of the four zoning map amendment requests. The Chris and Jenna Walker Zoning Map Amendment, Anderson Acquisitions, LLC Zoning Map Amendment, and Jason L. Justice Zoning Map Amendment all received approval from the commission. However, the James D. Baker Zoning Map Amendment was postponed for further consideration. Additionally, the commission approved amendments to update the Major Subdivision Plan Process, which will affect future development procedures in the county. The session demonstrated active public engagement with community members providing input on the proposed zoning changes affecting various properties throughout the jurisdiction.

Attendance

The following members were present at the October 26, 2017 meeting:

• Bill Wilson
• Headley Bell
• Will Berkley
• Patrick Brewer
• Mike Cravens
• Karen Mundy
• Mike Owens
• Frank Penn
• Carolyn Plumlee

Two members were absent:

• Forester
• Richardson

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The commission conducted twelve roll call votes during the meeting, with most items receiving unanimous approval from all nine members present.

PLN-MAR-17-00034 3:00: The Chris and Jenna Walker zoning map amendment from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Single Family Residential (R-1D) was approved unanimously 9-0. Carolyn Plumlee motioned and Frank Penn seconded.

PLN-MJSUB-17-00054 4:00: The Urban County Government/The Gardens of Hartland, Unit 1 (AMD) Preliminary Subdivision Plan passed 7-2 with revised conditions provided by staff. Carolyn Plumlee motioned and Mike Owens seconded. Voting in favor: Bill Wilson, Headley Bell, Will Berkley, Patrick Brewer, Mike Cravens, Karen Mundy, and Frank Penn. Voting against: Mike Owens and Carolyn Plumlee.

PLN-MAR-17-00035 5:00: Anderson Acquisitions, LLC's zoning amendment from Agricultural Rural (A-R) to Economic Development (ED) was approved unanimously 9-0. Mike Owens motioned and Patrick Brewer seconded.

PLN-MJDP-17-00097 6:00: The Winburn Land Company Preliminary Development Plan passed unanimously 9-0 with revised staff conditions. Mike Owens motioned and Patrick Brewer seconded.

PLN-MAR-17-00036 7:00: James D. Baker's zoning amendment from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) was postponed indefinitely by unanimous 9-0 vote. Will Berkley motioned and Mike Cravens seconded.

PLN-MAR-17-00037 8:00: Jason L. Justice's zoning amendment from Expansion Area Residential (EAR-2) to Community Center (CC) was approved unanimously 9-0. Mike Cravens motioned and Patrick Brewer seconded.

PLN-MJDP-17-00099 9:00: The Ashford Oaks Village (Meadow Oaks) Preliminary Development Plan passed unanimously 9-0 with revised staff conditions. A related conditional use and variance for the same project also passed unanimously 10:00. Both motions were made by Mike Cravens and seconded by Patrick Brewer.

SRA 2017-3 11:00: Amendments to update the major subdivision plan process were approved unanimously 9-0, with implementation set for January 1, 2018. Mike Cravens motioned and Karen Mundy seconded.

The commission also unanimously approved initiating amendments for subdivision regulation regarding final record plat size 12:00, updating the Planned Shopping Center (B-6P) zone 13:00, and adopting the 2018 meeting and filing schedule 14:00.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the board during the public comment period, both raising concerns related to a proposed development and its potential impacts on the surrounding area.

Ray Depa 3:30 spoke about stormwater drainage concerns affecting the Woodfield Homes Association. Depa expressed worries about potential flooding issues that could result from new development in the vicinity of the residential association. He highlighted the need for proper stormwater management to protect existing homes and infrastructure in the area.

William Madden 3:45 followed with concerns about both traffic safety and stormwater runoff impacts on his property. Madden specifically addressed how the proposed development could affect his property through increased stormwater runoff, while also raising issues about traffic safety in the area. His comments focused on the potential negative effects the development could have on existing residents and property owners.

Both speakers' comments centered on infrastructure and safety concerns related to the same proposed development, with stormwater management being a common theme. The residents emphasized the need for careful consideration of how new construction could impact existing neighborhoods, particularly regarding drainage systems and traffic patterns.

Contested Items

The October 26, 2017 meeting featured one contested item that generated significant discussion among council members.

James D. Baker Zoning Map Amendment

This zoning proposal resulted in a split vote after extensive deliberation focused on infrastructure concerns. The primary point of contention centered on the alignment of Lucille Drive and how the proposed development would integrate with existing infrastructure in the area.

Council members engaged in detailed discussion about the technical aspects of the development plan, particularly examining whether the proposed street alignment would create connectivity issues or conflicts with current road systems. The debate highlighted concerns about proper infrastructure planning and the long-term impact of the zoning change on the surrounding area's transportation network.

The split vote outcome indicates that council members were divided on whether the development proposal adequately addressed these infrastructure integration concerns, with some members apparently satisfied with the proposed solutions while others remained unconvinced about the Lucille Drive alignment issues.

*Note: Specific vote tallies, individual council member positions, and exact timestamps are not available in the provided meeting data.*

Chris and Jenna Walker Zoning Map Amendment

3:00

The council considered a zoning map amendment request from Chris and Jenna Walker to rezone property located at 4907 Tates Creek Road from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Single Family Residential (R-1D).

Key speakers during the discussion included Traci Wade and Tom Martin, who presented information regarding the proposed zoning change. The amendment would allow the property to transition from its current agricultural designation to a residential zoning classification suitable for single-family homes.

The council ultimately approved the zoning map amendment, allowing the Walker property to be rezoned from A-U to R-1D. This change will permit residential development on the Tates Creek Road property in accordance with Single Family Residential zoning requirements.

Anderson Acquisitions, LLC Zoning Map Amendment

5:00

The council considered an ordinance to rezone property at 2050 Newtown Pike from Agricultural Rural (A-R) to Economic Development (ED) for Anderson Acquisitions, LLC. This zoning map amendment would change the land use designation to allow for economic development activities on the site.

Key speakers during the discussion included Traci Wade and Tom Martin, who presented information about the proposed rezoning request. The speakers addressed the rationale for changing the zoning classification from agricultural use to economic development, which would permit different types of commercial and industrial activities on the property.

The council ultimately approved the zoning map amendment, allowing Anderson Acquisitions, LLC to proceed with their plans for the 2050 Newtown Pike property under the new Economic Development zoning designation.

James D. Baker Zoning Map Amendment

7:00

The council considered a zoning map amendment for property located at 1345 Greendale Road, proposed to be rezoned from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3). This was agenda item 3, presented as an ordinance.

Key speakers during the discussion included Traci Wade and Tom Martin, who addressed various aspects of the proposed zoning change. The amendment would allow for residential development on the property under the R-3 classification, which permits planned neighborhood residential uses.

The council ultimately decided to postpone action on the James D. Baker Zoning Map Amendment. No final vote was taken on the ordinance during this meeting, indicating that additional time was needed for further review, public input, or resolution of outstanding issues related to the proposed rezoning.

The postponement suggests that council members or staff may have had concerns or questions that required additional consideration before moving forward with the zoning change from agricultural to residential use.

Jason L. Justice Zoning Map Amendment

8:00 The Planning Commission considered a zoning map amendment request from Jason L. Justice to rezone property located at 6800 Man O'War Boulevard from Expansion Area Residential (EAR-2) to Community Center (CC).

Key speakers during the discussion included Traci Wade and Tom Martin, who presented information regarding the proposed zoning change. The amendment would allow for different development opportunities on the property by changing it from a residential designation to a community center classification.

The Community Center zoning district typically permits a broader range of commercial and mixed-use development compared to the Expansion Area Residential designation, which is primarily intended for residential development in areas planned for future growth.

Following the presentation and discussion of the zoning map amendment, the Planning Commission approved the request. The approval allows the property at 6800 Man O'War Boulevard to move forward with development opportunities consistent with Community Center zoning requirements.

Amendments to Update the Major Subdivision Plan Process

11:00

The board considered agenda item 5, which proposed amendments to update the process for major subdivision plans with the goal of expediting recordation and improving overall efficiency.

Jim Duncan served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the proposed changes to the existing major subdivision plan process. The amendments were designed to streamline procedures and reduce processing time for subdivision applications.

The discussion focused on modifications that would make the subdivision approval process more efficient while maintaining necessary oversight and regulatory standards. The proposed changes aimed to address bottlenecks in the current system that have caused delays in the recordation of major subdivision plans.

The board approved the amendments to update the major subdivision plan process. This approval represents an effort to modernize administrative procedures and reduce bureaucratic delays that have impacted development projects in the jurisdiction.

The changes are expected to benefit developers, property owners, and the community by creating a more streamlined approval process for major subdivisions while preserving essential review standards and public protections.