Special Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on August 14, 2007, at 6:00 PM with Council Member Gorton presiding over the session. The meeting focused on a single agenda item involving an ordinance second reading, which was ultimately denied by the Council. During the proceedings, the Council conducted 2 motions and votes while hearing from 6 members of the public who provided comments on matters before the body. The meeting represented a focused session with limited agenda items but significant public engagement through the comment period.

Attendance

The Council meeting on August 14, 2007 had strong attendance with 13 members present and 2 absent.

Present: • Gorton • Ellinger • James • Lane • McChord • Moloney • Stevens • Stinnett • Beard • Blevins • Blues • Crosbie • DeCamp

Absent: • Gray • Myers

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted two roll call votes on matters related to a zone change request at 756 Wilderness Road.

Motion to Adopt Findings of Fact for Disapproval 8:15 Mr. Stinnett made a motion to adopt findings of fact in support of disapproval of the zone change request at 756 Wilderness Road, seconded by Ms. Crosbie. The motion passed by a vote of 9-4.

Voting in favor: Gorton, James, McChord, Moloney, Stinnett, Blevins, Blues, Crosbie, and DeCamp.

Voting against: Ellinger, Lane, Stevens, and Beard.

Motion to Approve Zone Change Ordinance 8:27 Mr. McChord made a motion to approve the ordinance for zone change at 756 Wilderness Road, seconded by Mr. Blevins. The motion failed by a vote of 3-10.

Voting in favor: Ellinger, Lane, and Stevens.

Voting against: Gorton, James, McChord, Moloney, Stinnett, Beard, Blevins, Blues, Crosbie, and DeCamp.

The voting pattern shows that the majority of Council members supported the findings of fact that justified disapproving the zone change, while only three members voted to approve the actual zone change ordinance. Notably, Mr. McChord voted for the findings of fact supporting disapproval but then made the motion to approve the ordinance, ultimately voting against his own motion.

Public Comment

Six residents spoke during the public comment period, all expressing opposition to a proposed zone change. [timestamp: 02:00-04:30]

Jim Dougherty opened the public comment session by voicing concerns about safety hazards and increased traffic that would result from the proposed zone change. 2:00

Steve Van Winkle followed, arguing that the zone change would negatively impact property values in the area while also creating additional traffic problems for the neighborhood. 2:30

William Riggs spoke in opposition to the zone change, specifically citing traffic problems as a primary concern. He also expressed a preference for maintaining fewer homes in the area. 3:00

Samantha Frederick presented a petition against the proposed zone change to the Council. In addition to the petition, she raised concerns about the adequacy of existing infrastructure to handle increased development and the potential negative impact on property values. 3:30

Becky Haynes opposed the zone change, focusing her remarks on two key issues: increased traffic congestion and potential problems with groundwater resources in the area. 4:00

Carolyn Kidd concluded the public comment period by expressing concerns about traffic impacts and emphasizing the importance of preserving the rural character of the neighborhood. 4:30

The common themes throughout all public comments were opposition to increased traffic, concerns about maintaining property values, and preserving the existing character of the area. No speakers voiced support for the proposed zone change during this portion of the meeting.

Contested Items

The Council meeting on August 14, 2007, featured one significant contested item that drew community opposition.

Zone Change at 756 Wilderness Road

The primary point of contention during this meeting was a proposed zone change for the property located at 756 Wilderness Road. The proposal faced substantial opposition from local residents who raised multiple concerns about the potential impact on their neighborhood.

Community members expressed specific objections regarding: - Increased traffic that would result from the zone change - Safety concerns for the surrounding area - Potential negative effects on the existing neighborhood character

The opposition appeared to be organized, with local residents presenting a unified front against the proposed zoning modification. Their concerns centered on how the change would fundamentally alter the nature of their community and create additional burdens on local infrastructure and safety.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps, speaker names, and the final outcome of this contested item were not available in the provided meeting data. Readers seeking complete details about the discussion and resolution should refer to the full meeting video and official minutes.*

Ordinance Second Reading

1:00

The Council considered a zone change request from Single Family Residential (R-1B) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) for property located at 756 Wilderness Road. This second reading represented the final opportunity for public input and Council deliberation before a final vote.

The discussion featured extensive participation from both city officials and residents. Key speakers included Bill Sallee, Richard Murphy, Charles Hite, Jim Dougherty, and Steve Van Winkle, who presented various aspects of the proposed zoning change. Community members Samantha Frederick, Becky Haynes, and Carolyn Kidd also provided input during the proceedings.

The proposed rezoning would have changed the property designation from R-1B, which typically allows single-family homes on larger lots, to R-3 Planned Neighborhood Residential, which generally permits higher density residential development including townhomes, condominiums, or multi-family housing units.

During the deliberations, Council members and speakers addressed various concerns related to the zoning change, including potential impacts on neighborhood character, traffic patterns, infrastructure capacity, and compatibility with surrounding residential areas. The R-3 designation would have allowed for more intensive residential development than currently permitted under the existing R-1B zoning.

Following the presentations and discussion, the Council voted to deny the ordinance. This decision means the property at 756 Wilderness Road will retain its current Single Family Residential (R-1B) zoning classification, preventing the higher-density development that would have been possible under the proposed R-3 designation.

The denial concludes the formal review process for this particular zoning change request, though the property owner could potentially submit a new application in the future with modifications to address concerns raised during the proceedings.