Planning Commission Subdivision Items

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on March 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 four agenda items during the session, taking a total of eight votes on various motions throughout the meeting. One member of the public provided comments during the public comment period. Of the four development projects considered, three received approval while one was postponed for future consideration, demonstrating active review of multiple development proposals across Lexington-Fayette County.

Attendance

The meeting was attended by nine members, with two absences recorded.

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

Absent: • Headley Bell • Larry Forester

Late Arrivals: None recorded

Votes and Decisions

The commission took action on eight items during the March 8, 2018 meeting, with all motions passing unanimously.

Meeting Minutes Approval 0:30 Carolyn Plumlee moved to approve the minutes from the February 8, 2018 meeting, seconded by Karen Mundy. The motion passed unanimously 9-0 with all nine commissioners voting in favor.

Case PLN-MJDP-17-00114 Postponement 2:00 Karen Mundy moved to indefinitely postpone the Lexington Industrial Foundation (Baumann Paper Company) case, seconded by Carolyn Plumlee. The postponement was requested by the applicant and passed unanimously 9-0.

Consent Agenda 6:00 Mike Owens moved to approve the consent agenda items, seconded by Carolyn Richardson. The motion passed with eight commissioners voting in favor and two abstentions. Will Berkley and Patrick Brewer recused themselves from voting on case PLN-MJDP-18-00011.

Bond Release and Call 9:00 Mike Cravens moved to approve the release and call of bonds, seconded by Karen Mundy. The motion passed unanimously 9-0.

Case PLN-MJSUB-17-00048 - The Garden of Hartland, Unit 3 12:00 Carolyn Plumlee moved to approve the final subdivision plan for The Garden of Hartland, Unit 3, seconded by Patrick Brewer. The approval passed unanimously 9-0, subject to conditions recommended by staff. A separate motion by Plumlee and Brewer for a related waiver also passed unanimously 14:00.

Case PLN-MJDP-17-00109 18:00 Karen Mundy moved to approve the development plan for Fuller et al Property & Meadowthorpe Commercial Business Center, Lot 3, seconded by Carolyn Plumlee. The motion passed unanimously 9-0, subject to revised conditions including signage requirements.

Case DP 2011-41 25:00 Karen Mundy moved to reapprove Blackford Property, Phase 1, Unit 5 & Phase 3, seconded by Patrick Brewer. The reapproval passed unanimously 9-0, including EAMP compliance report requirements.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one resident addressed the board regarding a local development issue.

Wally Pennebaker spoke in opposition to the Blackford Property development 30:00. Pennebaker raised several concerns about the proposed project, including:

• Potential traffic congestion issues that could result from the development
• Loss of green space in the area
• Infrastructure capacity concerns related to supporting the new development

Pennebaker's comments focused on the broader community impacts of the Blackford Property development, emphasizing how the project could affect existing residents and the local environment. The speaker highlighted the importance of preserving green space and ensuring that infrastructure systems can adequately support new development without creating problems for current residents.

No other members of the public provided comments during this portion of the meeting.

Contested Items

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

Blackford Property Development

A resident raised concerns about the proposed Blackford Property development during the public comment period. The opposition centered on three main issues: potential traffic congestion that the development might create in the surrounding area, the impact on existing green space, and concerns about whether current infrastructure could adequately support the new development.

The resident's comments highlighted community apprehension about how the development would affect the neighborhood's character and livability. The specific concerns about congestion suggested worries about increased vehicle traffic on local roads, while the green space concerns indicated potential environmental or recreational impacts. Infrastructure issues likely related to utilities, roads, or other municipal services that might be strained by additional development.

The meeting materials do not indicate the specific outcome or resolution of these concerns, though the resident's ability to voice opposition during the meeting provided a formal avenue for community input on the development proposal.

Lexington Industrial Foundation (Baumann Paper Company)

2:00

The agenda item PLN-MJDP-17-00114 regarding the Lexington Industrial Foundation (Baumann Paper Company) was addressed briefly during the meeting. Key speakers included Karen Mundy and Carolyn Plumlee.

The item was postponed indefinitely at the request of the applicant to allow for further internal review. No substantive discussion or presentation of the proposal took place, as the applicant had requested additional time to conduct their own internal evaluation of the project before proceeding with the public review process.

The outcome was a postponement with no specified timeline for when the item might return to the agenda for consideration.

The Garden of Hartland, Unit 3

12:00

The planning commission reviewed agenda item PLN-MJSUB-17-00048, the final subdivision plan for The Garden of Hartland, Unit 3. The discussion involved key presentations from Tom Martin and Wesley Witt.

The commission considered the subdivision proposal, which required a waiver for lot frontage requirements that did not meet standard regulations. The applicant sought approval to proceed with the development despite not meeting the typical frontage standards for residential lots.

During the review process, the commission evaluated the technical aspects of the subdivision plan and weighed the merits of granting the requested waiver. The discussion focused on whether the proposed development could move forward without full compliance with standard lot frontage requirements.

Following deliberation, the commission reached a favorable decision on the application. The final subdivision plan for The Garden of Hartland, Unit 3 was approved with conditions. Additionally, the commission granted the requested waiver for the required lot frontage, allowing the development to proceed despite not meeting standard frontage requirements.

The approval enables the subdivision project to move forward to the next phase of development, subject to the conditions established by the commission during their review process.

Fuller et al Property & Meadowthorpe Commercial Business Center, Lot 3

18:00

The planning commission reviewed development plan PLN-MJDP-17-00109 for the Fuller et al Property & Meadowthorpe Commercial Business Center, Lot 3. Key speakers during the discussion included Tom Martin and Abby Jones.

The commission ultimately approved the development plan, but with specific conditions that must be met. Two primary issues were identified and addressed:

• Gymnasium Removal: The development plan required the removal of a gymnasium component from the proposed project
• Access Issues: Outstanding access-related concerns needed to be resolved before the project could proceed

The approval was contingent upon the developer satisfying these conditions. The commission's decision allows the commercial development to move forward once the specified modifications are made and access issues are properly addressed.

The development plan approval represents progress for the Meadowthorpe Commercial Business Center project, though implementation will depend on the developer's ability to meet the stated conditions within the required timeframe.

Blackford Property, Phase 1, Unit 5 & Phase 3

25:00

The council considered agenda item DP 2011-41 regarding the Blackford Property development, specifically Phase 1, Unit 5 and Phase 3. Key speakers during the discussion included Tom Martin and Nick Nicholson.

The development plan was presented for reapproval, with staff recommending approval subject to specific conditions. A primary requirement included compliance with the Environmental Assessment and Management Plan (EAMP), which addresses environmental concerns related to the project.

Despite community opposition to the proposal, the council moved forward with the reapproval. The nature of the community concerns was not detailed in the available materials, but the opposition was noted as part of the discussion.

The council ultimately approved the development plan with the stated conditions, including the mandatory EAMP compliance. This reapproval allows the Blackford Property development to proceed with Phase 1, Unit 5 and Phase 3 components, subject to meeting the environmental and other regulatory requirements outlined in the conditions of approval.

The decision represents a balance between development interests and environmental oversight, with the EAMP serving as a key mechanism to ensure environmental standards are maintained throughout the project implementation.