Planning Commission Subdivision Items

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on February 8, 2018, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chambers of the Urban County Government Building at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Chairman Wilson presiding. The commission addressed two primary agenda items during the session, both of which received approval. The meeting included consideration of "The Townhouses at Jefferson Street, Phase 3" development project and the "Charlotte Price Estate, Lots 61 & 62 (Adaptive Reuse Project)."

Throughout the proceedings, the commission conducted five formal motions and votes, demonstrating active deliberation on the matters before them. Two members of the public provided comments during the meeting, offering community input on the proposed developments. Both agenda items ultimately received approval from the commission, advancing these residential and adaptive reuse projects forward in the planning process.

Attendance

Present: • Bill Wilson • Will Berkley • Patrick Brewer • Mike Cravens • Karen Mundy • Mike Owens • Carolyn Plumlee

Absent: • Headley Bell • Larry Forester • Carolyn Richardson • Frank Penn

Late: • None

Seven members were present for the February 8, 2018 meeting, with four members absent. No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The commission took action on five items during the February 8, 2018 meeting, with three postponements and two approvals.

Postponements

The commission unanimously postponed three development projects [timestamp: 00:02-00:07]:

• PLN-MJDP-17-00109 - Fuller et al Property & Meadowthorpe Commercial Business Center, Lot 3 was postponed to March 8, 2018. Mike Owens made the motion, seconded by Patrick Brewer, passing 7-0.

• PLN-MJDP-18-00001 - Harper Woods was postponed to February 22, 2018. Mike Cravens made the motion, seconded by Carolyn Plumlee, passing 7-0.

• PLN-MJDP-17-00114 - Lexington Industrial Foundation (Baumann Paper Company) was postponed to March 8, 2018. Carolyn Plumlee made the motion, seconded by Karen Mundy, passing 7-0.

Approvals

Two development projects received approval:

• PLN-MJSUB-17-00077 - The Townhouses at Jefferson Street, Phase 3 final subdivision plan was unanimously approved 7-0 1:10. Mike Owens made the motion, seconded by Patrick Brewer. The approval was subject to conditions and waiver approval.

• PLN-MJDP-17-00117 - Charlotte Price Estate, Lots 61 & 62 (Adaptive Reuse Project) was approved 6-1 by roll call vote 2:30. Mike Owens made the motion, seconded by Mike Cravens. Voting in favor were Bill Wilson, Will Berkley, Patrick Brewer, Mike Cravens, Karen Mundy, and Mike Owens. Carolyn Plumlee cast the sole dissenting vote. The approval was subject to 16 conditions and findings.

All seven commission members were present for voting: Bill Wilson, Will Berkley, Patrick Brewer, Mike Cravens, Karen Mundy, Mike Owens, and Carolyn Plumlee.

Public Comment

Two community members addressed the board during the public comment period, both expressing concerns about a proposed development project.

Michael Costello 2:45 spoke about parking concerns related to the development proposal. He expressed worries about the number of proposed units and the potential increased demand for on-street parking that would result from the project.

Pastor Seibert Taylor 3:00 raised multiple concerns about the development's impact on the neighborhood. His comments focused on three main areas:

• Pedestrian safety issues that could arise from the development
• Increased traffic that would affect the surrounding area
• Lack of proper notification to the community about the proposed development

Both speakers' comments centered on the potential negative impacts of the development on the existing neighborhood, with particular emphasis on transportation-related concerns including parking availability and traffic safety.

Contested Items

The February 8, 2018 meeting featured one contested item that drew community opposition.

Charlotte Price Estate, Lots 61 & 62 (Adaptive Reuse Project)

Community members raised significant concerns about a proposed adaptive reuse project at the Charlotte Price Estate involving Lots 61 and 62. The opposition centered on three main issues:

• Traffic concerns - Residents expressed worries about increased vehicle traffic that the development would generate in the area

• Parking issues - Community members cited inadequate parking provisions as a major concern with the proposed project

• Lack of notification - Residents complained that they had not received proper advance notice about the development plans, limiting their ability to review and respond to the proposal

The community opposition highlighted ongoing tensions between development interests and neighborhood preservation concerns. Residents appeared frustrated both with the substance of the project and the process by which it was being advanced, particularly the notification procedures.

The specific outcome of this contested item was not detailed in the available meeting materials, though the community concerns were formally raised during the public meeting process.

The Townhouses at Jefferson Street, Phase 3

1:10

The planning commission reviewed application PLN-MJSUB-17-00077 for The Townhouses at Jefferson Street, Phase 3, which proposed a final subdivision plan to subdivide two existing lots into 13 individual lots.

Key speakers during the discussion included Tom Martin and Richard Murphy, who presented details of the subdivision proposal. The project required consideration of a waiver for street frontage requirements, indicating that some of the proposed lots would not meet standard frontage specifications typically required for subdivision approval.

The discussion focused on the technical aspects of the subdivision layout and how the 13 new lots would be configured from the existing two parcels. The street frontage waiver was a significant component of the review, as it represented a deviation from standard subdivision requirements that needed commission approval.

Following the presentation and discussion of the proposal's merits and compliance with applicable regulations, the commission moved forward with their decision-making process. The application was ultimately approved, allowing the subdivision to proceed as proposed with the requested street frontage waiver.

This approval represents the final phase of The Townhouses at Jefferson Street development, completing the subdivision process that will enable the creation of 13 individual building lots from the original two parcels. The approved waiver ensures that the development can move forward despite not meeting standard street frontage requirements for all proposed lots.

Charlotte Price Estate, Lots 61 & 62 (Adaptive Reuse Project)

The planning commission reviewed application PLN-MJDP-17-00117 for an adaptive reuse project at the Charlotte Price Estate on Lots 61 & 62 2:30. The proposal involves converting existing structures into residential units while incorporating parking facilities and public art components.

Tom Martin and Matt Carter served as key speakers during the discussion, presenting details about the adaptive reuse plans. The project aims to preserve the historic character of the Charlotte Price Estate while repurposing the buildings for modern residential use.

The commission examined various aspects of the proposal, including:

• Residential unit configurations and layouts
• Parking requirements and accessibility
• Integration of public art elements
• Preservation of historic architectural features
• Compliance with zoning regulations

The adaptive reuse approach allows the property to maintain its historical significance while providing contemporary housing options. The inclusion of public art components demonstrates the project's commitment to enhancing the cultural value of the development.

Following the presentation and discussion of the project details, the commission voted to approve application PLN-MJDP-17-00117. The approval allows the Charlotte Price Estate adaptive reuse project to proceed, enabling the transformation of the historic property into functional residential units while preserving its architectural heritage and incorporating artistic elements for community benefit.