Urban County Council - Zone Change Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on July 2, 2019, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Steve Kay presiding as the meeting officer. The council addressed one primary agenda item during the session, focusing on a Zone Change Ordinance that was ultimately approved.

The meeting included one formal motion and vote, allowing the council to take decisive action on the zoning matter before them. Three members of the public participated in the public comment portion of the meeting, providing community input on the proceedings. The council successfully completed its business for the evening with the approval of the Zone Change Ordinance, demonstrating efficient handling of the single agenda item presented for consideration.

Attendance

Present: Mr. Gibbs, Vice Mayor Kay, Ms. Lamb, Mr. Mccurn, Mr. Moloney, Ms. Mossotti, Ms. Plomin, Ms. Reynolds, Mr. James Brown, Mr. Ellinger, Ms. Evans, Mr. Farm

Absent: Mr. Worley, Mr. Fred Brown

Late: None

Twelve members were present for the July 2, 2019 meeting, with two members absent and no late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted one roll call vote during the July 2, 2019 meeting.

Ordinance 0601-19 9:20 The council voted on an ordinance to change the zoning from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Expansion Area Residential (EAR-2) for property located at 2020 Russell Cave Road. Mr. Gibbs made the motion, which was seconded by Mr. Ellinger.

The ordinance passed by a vote of 8-4 with no abstentions.

Voting in favor (8): • Mr. Gibbs • Vice Mayor Kay • Ms. Plomin • Ms. Reynolds • Mr. Worley • Mr. James Brown • Mr. Ellinger • Ms. Evans

Voting against (4): • Ms. Lamb • Mr. Mccurn • Mr. Moloney • Mr. Farmer

The approved zoning change includes a condition limiting development to single-family detached units only.

Public Comment

Three residents spoke during the public comment period, all expressing opposition to a proposed zone change and development project.

Catherine Perkins 0:30 addressed the board first, voicing concerns about environmental issues and density related to the proposed zone change. She expressed opposition to the project based on these environmental and density considerations.

Patty 0:45 followed with comments focused on flooding and environmental concerns in the area. She discussed existing flooding issues that affect the location and emphasized the environmental sensitivity of the proposed development site, suggesting these factors should be considered in the decision-making process.

Amy Clark 1:00 concluded the public comment period by raising concerns about the density of the proposed development and its potential impact on neighborhood traffic. She highlighted how the increased density could worsen traffic conditions in the surrounding area.

All three speakers appeared to be in opposition to the proposed zone change, with their comments centering on environmental impacts, flooding risks, development density, and traffic concerns. The speakers focused on how the proposed changes could affect both the immediate development site and the broader neighborhood.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that drew substantial community opposition.

Zone Change for 2020 Russell Cave Rd

The proposed zone change for the property at 2020 Russell Cave Road encountered significant resistance from local residents during the public hearing process. Community members voiced strong concerns about two primary issues: potential environmental impacts and the likelihood of increased traffic in the area.

The opposition centered on residents' fears that the proposed zoning change would alter the character of their neighborhood and create additional burdens on local infrastructure. Speakers expressed particular worry about how increased development might affect the surrounding environment and whether existing roadways could handle additional vehicle traffic.

Multiple community members participated in the public comment period to voice their objections to the proposal. The residents' concerns focused on preserving the current neighborhood dynamics and preventing what they viewed as potentially harmful changes to their area.

The structured opposition from the community highlighted the tension between development interests and neighborhood preservation that often characterizes zoning disputes. Local residents demonstrated organized resistance to the proposed change, indicating the level of concern within the affected community about the potential impacts of rezoning this particular property.

*Note: Specific timestamps, final outcomes, and additional details about the resolution of this contested item were not available in the provided meeting materials.*

Zone Change Ordinance

0:10

The council considered Ordinance 0601-19, which proposed changing the zoning designation for property at 2020 Russell Cave Road from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Expansion Area Residential (EAR-2). The development plan called for a mixed residential project featuring both single-family homes and townhouse units.

Key speakers during the discussion included Steve Kay, Tracey Wade, and Nathan Billings, who presented details about the proposed zoning change and development plans. The speakers outlined how the EAR-2 zoning classification would accommodate the planned residential mix while maintaining compatibility with the surrounding area's development patterns.

The ordinance represents a transition from the property's current agricultural designation to a residential classification that permits higher-density housing options. The EAR-2 zoning would allow for the construction of both traditional single-family homes and townhouse-style units, providing diverse housing options within the development.

Following the presentation and discussion of the zoning change proposal, the council voted to approve Ordinance 0601-19. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with development plans under the new Expansion Area Residential zoning classification, enabling the construction of the proposed mixed residential project at the Russell Cave Road location.