Urban County Council - Zone Change Hearing (Anderson Acquisition)

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government met on July 8, 2019, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Vice Mayor Kay presiding over the session. The meeting focused on consideration of Ordinance 0600-19, which was ultimately approved by the council. During the proceedings, the council heard from six members of the public who provided comments on matters before the body. The council took one formal vote during the meeting, resulting in the approval of the ordinance under consideration.

Attendance

The following members were present at the July 8, 2019 meeting:

Present (11 members): • Kay • Lamb • McCurn • Moloney • Mossotti • Plomin • Reynolds • Worley • J. Brown • Ellinger • Farmer

Absent (4 members): • Bledsoe • F. Brown • Evans • Gibbs

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted one recorded vote during this meeting.

Ordinance 0600-19 9:34 The council voted on an ordinance to change the zoning classification for property located at 3450 & 3550 Todds Road from Single Family Residential (R-1D) zone to Townhouse Residential (R-1T) zone, along with other related changes. Mr. Farmer made the motion, which was seconded by Ms. Mossotti.

The ordinance passed unanimously on a roll call vote with 11 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. Council members voting in favor were: • Lamb • McCurn • Moloney • Mossotti • Plomin • Reynolds • Worley • J. Brown • Ellinger • Farmer • Kay

The approved ordinance includes conditions that the property shall be subject to use and buffering restrictions via conditional zoning.

Public Comment

7:49

Six community members addressed the board regarding a proposed zone change, with five speakers opposing the proposal and one in support.

Opposition to Zone Change:

Mr. Clyde Honaker spoke against the zone change, raising concerns about storm water drainage issues and expressing frustration that the current proposal deviated from the original plan of 36 townhomes.

Mr. Rick Towner voiced opposition based on traffic concerns, rainwater runoff problems, and issues with the density of the proposed development.

Ms. Kristin Crosbie argued against the zone change, stating that the current plan represented a significant departure from what was initially presented to homeowners in the area.

Mr. Jason Waldeck expressed disappointment with the overall process and the changes made from the original development plan, emphasizing the negative impact these modifications would have on the surrounding community.

Ms. Yolanda Davis reinforced the concerns raised by previous speakers, reiterating opposition to the deviation from the original plan and highlighting the potential community impact.

Support for Zone Change:

Mr. Edwin Gibson provided the sole voice of support for the zone change proposal. He highlighted what he viewed as benefits of the plan and noted the community's involvement in the development process.

The public comments revealed a clear pattern of community concern, with multiple speakers referencing discrepancies between an original development plan featuring 36 townhomes and the current proposal under consideration. Common themes among opponents included infrastructure concerns related to storm water management and traffic, as well as frustration with changes to the development's scope and density from what was initially presented to residents.

Contested Items

The primary contested item during this meeting was a proposed zone change for properties located at 3450 and 3550 Todds Road. The proposal faced significant community opposition from several residents who attended the meeting to voice their concerns.

Zone Change Opposition

Community members raised multiple objections to the proposed zone change, focusing on three main areas of concern:

• Increased density concerns - Residents expressed worry about the potential for higher population density in the area if the zone change were approved

• Storm water management issues - Opposition speakers cited concerns about how increased development would impact local storm water systems and drainage

• Deviation from original planning - Community members argued that the proposed zone change represented a departure from previously established development plans for the area

The opposition appeared to be organized, with several residents speaking against the proposal during the public comment period. The specific outcome of this contested item was not clearly indicated in the available meeting materials, though the level of community engagement suggests this was a significant local planning issue that required careful consideration by the governing body.

The nature of the opposition centered on quality of life and infrastructure concerns typical of residential zoning disputes, where existing residents worry about the impacts of increased development on their neighborhood character and municipal services.

Ordinance 0600-19

7:49

The council considered Ordinance 0600-19, which proposed changing the zoning designation for properties located at 3450 & 3550 Todds Road from Single Family Residential (R-1D) to Townhouse Residential (R-1T) zone, along with other associated changes.

Vice Mayor Kay led the discussion of this zoning amendment. The agenda item involved presentations from several key participants, including Ms. Traci Wade, Mr. Richard Murphy, and Mr. Nathan Billings, who provided input on the proposed zoning change.

The ordinance represents a shift from single-family residential use to allow for townhouse development on the Todds Road properties. This type of zoning change typically involves considerations of density, traffic impact, infrastructure capacity, and compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods.

Following the presentations and discussion among council members and the identified speakers, the council voted to approve Ordinance 0600-19. The approval allows the properties at 3450 & 3550 Todds Road to proceed under the new Townhouse Residential (R-1T) zoning classification, enabling townhouse development on these parcels.