Planning Commission Subdivision and Zoning Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on December 13, 2018, 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 meeting officer. The commission addressed three main agenda categories: Land Subdivision Items, Zoning Items, and a Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing, all of which were informational in nature. During the course of the meeting, the commission conducted 14 motions and votes on various planning matters before them. The meeting also included input from the public, with 4 public comments heard throughout the proceedings, allowing community members to provide feedback on the planning issues under consideration.

Attendance

The following members were present at the December 13, 2018 meeting:

• Bill Wilson
• Headley Bell
• Will Berkley
• Patrick Brewer
• Larry Forester
• Karen Mundy
• Bruce Nicol
• Mike Owens
• Frank Penn
• Carolyn Plumlee
• Graham Pohl

All eleven members were in attendance. No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included 14 unanimous votes, with all 11 members present voting in favor of each motion. Seven items were postponed to future meetings, while seven others were approved.

Postponements:

The commission postponed ZOTA 2018-5 amendment update to Article 15 to January 24, on motion by Frank Penn 0:02. Six development plans were postponed to January 10: Willow Oak Shopping Center (PLN-MJDP-18-00075) on motion by Mike Owens 0:05, Blackford Property Phase 3 (PLN-MJDP-18-00076) on motion by Will Berkley 0:08, Distillery District - West Unit 1 (PLN-MJDP-18-00090) on motion by Mike Owens, seconded by Karen Mundy 0:11, Hamburg East Lot 3 (PLN-MJDP-18-00094) on motion by Karen Mundy, seconded by Carolyn Plumlee 0:17, and Wiggins & Company Lot A-5 (PLN-MJDP-18-00093) on motion by Carolyn Plumlee, seconded by Karen Mundy 0:20.

ZOTA 2018-4, an amendment to update Article 21, was indefinitely postponed on motion by Will Berkley, seconded by Karen Mundy 0:14.

Approvals:

The commission approved the release and call of bonds as detailed in a memorandum, on motion by Frank Penn, seconded by Karen Mundy 0:23.

Four zone changes were approved with revised staff conditions: CBROTHERS, LLC (PLN-MAR-18-00022) on motion by Mike Owens, seconded by Patrick Brewer 0:30; Anderson Communities (PLN-MAR-18-00024) on motion by Frank Penn 1:00; and Southern & Jones Properties, LLC (PLN-MAR-18-00026) on motion by Will Berkley, seconded by Karen Mundy 2:30.

Three preliminary development plans were approved with revised staff conditions: Hillenmeyer Properties, LLC (PLN-MJDP-18-00085) on motion by Mike Owens, seconded by Patrick Brewer 0:35; Pappert Property (PLN-MJDP-18-00083) on motion by Frank Penn 1:05; and Penmoken Park (PLN-MJDP-18-00095) on motion by Will Berkley, seconded by Karen Mundy 2:35.

All votes were 11-0 in favor, with members Bill Wilson, Headley Bell, Will Berkley, Patrick Brewer, Larry Forester, Karen Mundy, Bruce Nicol, Mike Owens, Frank Penn, Carolyn Plumlee, and Graham Pohl voting yes on each motion.

Public Comment

Four community members addressed the board during the public comment period, raising concerns about various aspects of a proposed development.

Karen Wynne spoke first 1:10, expressing concerns about fencing requirements along agricultural land and the presence of a historical cemetery on the property. She highlighted the need to address these issues as part of the development planning process.

Angel Read followed 1:15, voicing concerns about increased traffic and its potential impact on neighborhood safety. Read emphasized the importance of considering traffic flow and safety measures in relation to the proposed development.

Tiffany Roland addressed the board 1:20 regarding school capacity issues. Roland raised concerns about whether local schools would have adequate capacity to accommodate new students from the proposed development, questioning the infrastructure's ability to handle increased enrollment.

Jessica, who identified herself as an architect, provided the final public comment 2:00. She discussed the importance of maintaining the architectural integrity of the neighborhood and suggested alternatives to the current development proposal. As a professional in the field, Jessica offered perspective on design considerations and compatibility with existing structures.

The public comments collectively addressed infrastructure concerns including traffic safety, school capacity, historical preservation, and architectural compatibility. All speakers focused on how the proposed development would impact the existing community and its resources.

Contested Items

Two significant items generated substantial debate and community opposition during the December 13, 2018 meeting.

Zone Change for Southern & Jones Properties, LLC

The proposed zone change for Southern & Jones Properties, LLC faced strong resistance from area residents. Community members voiced concerns about how the development would impact the existing neighborhood character and expressed worries about increased traffic congestion. Multiple residents spoke against the proposal during the public comment period, emphasizing their opposition to changes they felt would alter the residential nature of their community.

Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing

The Comprehensive Plan discussion became particularly heated, with extensive debate centered around the "place builder" concept and its potential implications for future development throughout the jurisdiction. Community members and officials engaged in significant discussion about the planning framework, with several participants calling for expanded opportunities for public input in the comprehensive planning process. The debate highlighted concerns about community involvement in long-term development decisions and the need for greater transparency in the planning process.

Both contested items reflected broader community concerns about development pressure and the balance between growth and preserving existing neighborhood characteristics. The discussions demonstrated active civic engagement, with residents taking advantage of public comment opportunities to voice their positions on these significant land use matters.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this meeting summary.*

Land Subdivision Items

0:25

The Subdivision Committee presented their recommendations during agenda item IV, with Jim Duncan serving as the key speaker for this section. The committee had met to review various land subdivision applications and provided their findings to the board.

Duncan reported that the Subdivision Committee had evaluated multiple subdivision requests and made determinations regarding conditional approvals and postponements for several projects. The committee's work involved assessing compliance with local subdivision regulations and development standards.

The presentation was informational in nature, with the committee sharing their recommendations based on their review of the submitted applications. The discussion covered the committee's evaluation process and the rationale behind their decisions for each subdivision item under consideration.

This agenda item served as a formal report from the Subdivision Committee to update the board on their recent activities and decisions regarding pending land subdivision matters in the jurisdiction.

Zoning Items

0:45

The Zoning Committee presented their review of various zoning matters during this agenda item. Jim Duncan served as the key speaker for this discussion.

The committee addressed both zoning map amendments and zoning ordinance text amendments during their review. The presentation covered multiple zoning-related items that had come before the committee for consideration.

Several items on the zoning docket experienced scheduling changes, with some matters being postponed for future consideration. Other items received approval from the committee during their review process.

This agenda item served as an informational update to provide the governing body with the current status of zoning matters under committee review. The discussion allowed for transparency in the zoning review process and kept officials informed of pending zoning decisions.

The outcome was informational in nature, with no specific action items requiring immediate decision from the full body during this meeting.

Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing

3:00

The City Council continued the Comprehensive Plan public hearing that began on December 10, 2018. Chris Woodall served as the key speaker for this agenda item, leading discussions about the ongoing comprehensive planning process.

The hearing focused on two main components: the place builder concept and gathering public input on the comprehensive plan. The place builder appears to be a tool or framework being considered as part of the city's long-term planning strategy, though specific details about its implementation were not elaborated in the available materials.

This continuation hearing provided an opportunity for additional community members to offer feedback and comments on the comprehensive plan, which serves as the city's long-term vision and policy guide for future development and growth. The public hearing format allowed residents to voice their perspectives on how the city should evolve over the coming years.

The agenda item was classified as informational, indicating that no formal votes or decisions were made during this session. Instead, the focus remained on collecting input and continuing the public dialogue that began three days earlier. This approach demonstrates the city's commitment to ensuring adequate public participation in the comprehensive planning process.

The hearing represents part of the standard municipal planning process, where cities are required to update their comprehensive plans periodically and provide multiple opportunities for public engagement before adoption.