Continuation of Planning Commission Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on October 21, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the 2nd floor of the Government Center at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky. The meeting focused on a single agenda item addressing accessory dwelling units through a zoning text amendment. The Commission heard one public comment during the proceedings and took one vote on the matter before them. The primary accomplishment of the meeting was the approval of ZOTA 2019-5, which amended multiple articles of the zoning ordinance related to accessory dwelling units.

Attendance

The following Commission members were present at the October 21, 2019 meeting:

• Kathy Plowman
• Anne Hardy
• Jim Duncan
• Mr. Penn
• Mr. DeMovlin
• Chris Taylor
• Ms. Mundy
• Mr. Bennett
• Frank

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

Votes and Decisions

The Commission took action on one zoning ordinance text amendment during the October 21, 2019 meeting.

ZOTA 2019-5 - Amendment to Articles 1, 3, 8, 15, 22, and 23 regarding Accessory Dwelling Units was considered by the Commission. Mr. Penn made the motion to approve the amendment, which was seconded by Mr. Bennett. The motion passed unanimously, with approval based on staff recommendations.

The amendment addressed regulations for accessory dwelling units across multiple articles of the zoning ordinance, representing a comprehensive update to the county's approach to this housing type. The unanimous approval indicates broad Commission support for the proposed changes as recommended by planning staff.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one speaker addressed the Commission.

Anne Hardy spoke about Visit Horse Country, a not-for-profit organization focused on opening horse farms to the public and promoting tourism in the area. Hardy discussed the organization's mission to create opportunities for public access to local horse farms while supporting tourism development in the region.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for this public comment session.*

Contested Items

The primary contested item at the October 21, 2019 Commission meeting was the Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) ordinance, which faced significant community opposition before ultimately being approved with conditions.

Accessory Dwelling Units Ordinance

The ADU proposal generated substantial debate from community members who raised several key concerns during the public comment period. Residents expressed opposition regarding the potential for these units to be used as short-term rentals, which they feared could disrupt the character of established neighborhoods. Additionally, there were questions and concerns about owner occupancy requirements - specifically whether property owners would be required to live on-site in either the primary residence or the accessory unit.

Community members also voiced apprehensions about the broader impact these additional dwelling units might have on their neighborhoods, including potential issues related to parking, density, and maintaining the existing residential character of their areas.

Despite the community opposition, the Commission moved forward with the ordinance. However, rather than approving it as originally proposed, the Commission addressed some of the concerns raised by approving the ADU ordinance with specific conditions attached. These conditions were designed to mitigate some of the community's stated concerns, though the exact details of these conditions were not specified in the available meeting materials.

The approval of the ADU ordinance with conditions represents a compromise approach by the Commission - acknowledging the community's concerns while still moving forward with the policy initiative to increase housing options within the jurisdiction.

ZOTA 2019-5: AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES 1, 3, 8, 15, 22 and 23: ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS

The Planning Commission continued the public hearing for ZOTA 2019-5, a zoning ordinance text amendment to update multiple articles of the LFUCG Zoning Ordinance to include provisions for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The proposed amendments would modify Articles 1, 3, 8, 15, 22, and 23 to establish regulations for these secondary residential units.

Key speakers during the discussion included Chris Taylor, Mr. Penn, and Ms. Mundy, who addressed various aspects of the proposed ADU regulations. The amendment represents a significant update to the city's zoning framework, introducing new provisions that would allow property owners to construct or convert spaces into accessory dwelling units under specific guidelines.

The discussion focused on establishing appropriate standards and requirements for ADUs within the existing zoning structure. These secondary dwelling units are typically smaller residential units located on the same property as a primary residence, either as separate structures or converted portions of existing buildings.

Following deliberation on the proposed text amendments, the Planning Commission approved ZOTA 2019-5. This approval moves the accessory dwelling unit provisions forward in the legislative process, bringing new housing options to Lexington-Fayette County residents while ensuring appropriate regulatory oversight.

The approved amendments will establish the legal framework for ADUs in the community, potentially providing additional housing opportunities and allowing property owners more flexibility in utilizing their properties. The text amendment affects multiple articles of the zoning ordinance to ensure comprehensive integration of ADU regulations throughout the city's land use controls.