Planning Commission Zoning Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on March 22, 2018, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chamber on the second floor of the LFUCG Government Center at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Bill Wilson presiding as the meeting officer. The commission addressed two zoning map amendment applications during the session, with one item being postponed and one receiving approval. The meeting included four recorded motions and votes, along with two public comments from attendees. Of the two agenda items considered, the WINCHESTER 836, LLC Zoning Map Amendment was postponed for future consideration, while the OFF SEASON, LLC Zoning Map Amendment was approved by the commission.

Attendance

The following members were present at the March 22, 2018 meeting:

• Bill Wilson
• Headley Bell
• Will Berkley
• Mike Cravens
• Larry Forester
• Karen Mundy
• Mike Owens
• Frank Penn
• Carolyn Richardson

Absent: • Patrick Brewer • Carolyn Plumlee

No members arrived late to the meeting. Nine members were present and two were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The commission took action on four items during the March 22, 2018 meeting, with all votes passing unanimously with all nine members present.

Postponements

Frank Penn motioned to postpone PLN-MAR-18-00002: OVERBROOK FARM, LLC and PLN-MJDP-18-00008: SAMFORD & MCCRACKEN FARMS, UNIT 2 & ALFORD PROPERTY to the April 26, 2018 meeting 0:10. Karen Mundy seconded the motion, which passed unanimously 9-0. All members voted in favor: Bill Wilson, Headley Bell, Will Berkley, Mike Cravens, Larry Forester, Karen Mundy, Mike Owens, Frank Penn, and Carolyn Richardson.

Mike Owens motioned to postpone PLN-MAR-17-00041: WINCHESTER 836, LLC and PLN-MJDP-17-00121: ARLINGTON WEEKLY PAYMENT LOT & INVESTMENT COMPANY'S ADDITION to the April 26, 2018 meeting 0:15. Carolyn Richardson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously 9-0 with the same members voting in favor.

Approvals

Karen Mundy motioned to approve PLN-MAR-18-00001: OFF SEASON, LLC zone map amendment 2:45. Mike Owens seconded the motion, which passed unanimously 9-0. The approval included conditions as recommended by staff. All nine members voted in favor.

Mike Owens motioned to approve PLN-MJDP-18-00002: HINDA HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION, BLK B development plan 3:00. Karen Mundy seconded the motion, which passed unanimously 9-0. The approval included 10 conditions as recommended by staff. All nine members voted in favor.

All votes were conducted with full attendance, and no members abstained or voted against any of the four motions considered.

Public Comment

Two residents spoke during the public comment period regarding the OFF SEASON, LLC development proposal.

Peter Sawaya 2:00 addressed the board with concerns about the potential impacts of the proposed development. He specifically raised issues about increased traffic that the project might generate in the area. Sawaya also expressed concerns about the aesthetic impact of a proposed wall associated with the OFF SEASON, LLC development, indicating that the visual changes could negatively affect the neighborhood's character.

Steven White 2:10 spoke as a representative of the Glendover Neighborhood Association. White presented formal opposition to the OFF SEASON, LLC development, submitting a petition that demonstrated significant community resistance to the project. The petition contained signatures from 255 residents who opposed the development, indicating substantial neighborhood concern about the proposed project.

Both speakers focused their comments on the OFF SEASON, LLC development, with concerns ranging from practical traffic considerations to aesthetic impacts and broader community opposition as evidenced by the neighborhood association's petition.

Contested Items

The primary contested item during this meeting was the OFF SEASON, LLC Zoning Map Amendment, which faced significant community opposition.

OFF SEASON, LLC Zoning Map Amendment

The proposed zoning map amendment by OFF SEASON, LLC encountered substantial resistance from local residents and neighborhood organizations. The Glendover Neighborhood Association led the opposition efforts, expressing concerns about the potential development's impact on the surrounding community.

The main points of contention centered on two key issues:

• Traffic Impact: Residents and the neighborhood association raised concerns about increased traffic that would result from the proposed development, potentially affecting the safety and livability of the area.

• Neighborhood Character: Opposition groups argued that the development would negatively alter the existing character of the neighborhood, disrupting the established community atmosphere.

The disagreement involved multiple stakeholders, with the Glendover Neighborhood Association serving as the primary organized voice of opposition alongside individual local residents who attended the meeting to express their concerns about the proposed zoning change.

The nature of the opposition suggests this was a typical land use dispute where existing residents sought to preserve their neighborhood's current character and infrastructure capacity against a developer's proposal for new construction or rezoning that would allow for different types of development.

*Note: Specific meeting timestamps and the final outcome of this contested item are not available in the provided meeting data.*

WINCHESTER 836, LLC Zoning Map Amendment

0:15

The board discussed a zoning map amendment request from Winchester 836, LLC to change the zoning designation from Neighborhood Business (B-1) to High Rise Apartment (R-5). The proposal also included requests for dimensional variances in conjunction with the zone change.

Matt Carter served as the key speaker presenting information about this zoning amendment request during the discussion.

The proposed amendment would allow for high-rise apartment development in an area currently zoned for neighborhood business use. The dimensional variances requested suggest that the proposed development may not fully conform to standard R-5 zoning requirements, necessitating additional relief from typical zoning restrictions.

Following the discussion, the board decided to postpone action on the Winchester 836, LLC zoning map amendment request. No final decision was made regarding the zone change from B-1 to R-5 or the associated dimensional variances at this meeting.

The postponement indicates that additional information, review, or consideration may be needed before the board can make a determination on this zoning amendment proposal.

OFF SEASON, LLC Zoning Map Amendment

2:45

The commission considered a zoning map amendment request from OFF SEASON, LLC to rezone property from Single Family Residential (R-1C) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) zone. The proposed development would consist of 14 townhouses on the site.

Darby Turner served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item. The amendment would allow for higher density residential development than currently permitted under the existing R-1C zoning classification.

The commission ultimately approved the zoning map amendment, allowing OFF SEASON, LLC to proceed with their planned townhouse development under the R-3 zoning designation.