Special Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on June 10, 2008, at 6:00 PM with Vice-Mayor Jim Gray presiding over the session. The meeting focused primarily on a single agenda item involving a zoning change request for property located at 2040 Sandersville Road. Council members conducted 2 formal votes during the proceedings and heard from 9 members of the public who provided comments on matters before the Council.

The primary business of the evening centered on an ordinance to rezone 2040 Sandersville Road from R-3 (residential) to I-1 (industrial), which ultimately received approval from the Council. The meeting provided an opportunity for significant public input, with nearly a dozen citizens taking advantage of the public comment period to address the Council on various issues of community concern.

Attendance

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council meeting on June 10, 2008 had ten members present and five members absent.

Present: • Jim Gray • Ellinger • Henson • Lane • McChord • Myers • Stevens • Beard • Blues • Crosbie

Absent: • DeCamp • Gorton • James • Stinnett • Blevins

No council members arrived late to the meeting. With ten of the fifteen council members in attendance, a quorum was present to conduct official business.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting, both related to a zoning change request for property at 2040 Sandersville Road.

Motion to Adopt Planning Commission Findings 8:34 Councilmember Blues moved to adopt the findings of fact for conditional approval of the Planning Commission, with a second by Councilmember Myers. The motion passed unanimously with a 10-0 vote. All ten council members voted in favor: Ellinger, Gray, Henson, Lane, McChord, Myers, Stevens, Beard, Blues, and Crosbie. No members voted against or abstained.

The approval included a specific condition requiring "a minimum 100' buffer and landscape area adjacent to the existing R-3 zone, containing a 10' tall earthen berm and passive recreational use, shall be provided."

Motion to Approve Zoning Ordinance 8:47 Following the findings adoption, Councilmember Blues moved to approve the ordinance changing the zone from R-3 to I-1 for 2040 Sandersville Road, again seconded by Councilmember Myers. This motion also passed unanimously with a 10-0 vote. The same ten council members voted in favor: Ellinger, Gray, Henson, Lane, McChord, Myers, Stevens, Beard, Blues, and Crosbie. No members voted against or abstained.

Both votes demonstrated complete council consensus on the zoning change request, with all present members supporting both the conditional approval findings and the final ordinance approval for the property rezoning from residential (R-3) to light industrial (I-1) use.

Public Comment

Nine residents spoke during the public comment period, all expressing opposition to a proposed zone change. The speakers raised consistent concerns about health impacts, noise, traffic, and property values.

Pat Jones opened the public comment period 2:00, expressing concern that promises made to the community have not been kept and that the zone change would present health issues.

Cynthia Bryant 2:30 opposed the zone change, citing the comprehensive plan and the impact on community activities and health. Sherry Potter 3:00 raised specific concerns about the health impact of asphalt fumes and noise on children, as well as potential effects on property values.

Steve Bowen 3:30 presented a petition from residents opposing the zone change due to traffic, noise, and property value concerns. James Monroe 4:00 spoke on behalf of neighbors, expressing concerns about noise, lighting, and property values.

PG Peoples 4:30 expressed disappointment that athletic facilities were not developed as previously planned and opposed bringing industrial sites closer to residents. David Cozart 5:00 opposed the zone change, citing the need for affordable housing and appropriate development instead.

Ray Stumbo 5:30 focused on concerns about noise from industrial activities and questioned the adequacy of the proposed buffer zone. Mark McGowan 6:00 concluded the public comments by raising concerns about noise from industrial activities affecting property desirability.

The public comments revealed unified community opposition centered on health concerns from industrial emissions, noise pollution, traffic impacts, declining property values, and disappointment over unfulfilled promises for community amenities like athletic facilities.

Contested Items

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

Zone Change from R-3 to I-1 for 2040 Sandersville Road

The primary source of contention during the meeting was a proposed zone change from R-3 (residential) to I-1 (industrial) for property located at 2040 Sandersville Road. Despite having received approval from the Planning Commission, the rezoning request faced significant opposition from area residents.

Community members voiced strong concerns about the potential negative impacts of converting residential property to industrial use. Residents specifically cited worries about health implications, increased noise levels, and the potential decline in surrounding property values that could result from introducing industrial activities into what had been a residential area.

The opposition highlighted the tension between development interests and community preservation, with residents arguing that the industrial zoning would be incompatible with the existing residential character of the neighborhood. The concerns raised by citizens focused on quality of life issues and the long-term effects such a zone change might have on their community.

While the Planning Commission had already reviewed and approved the rezoning request through the standard review process, the substantial community pushback demonstrated the controversial nature of the proposal and the residents' determination to protect their neighborhood's residential character.

Ordinance changing the zone from R-3 to I-1 for 2040 Sandersville Road

0:30

The Council considered an ordinance to rezone 13.63 acres at 2040 Sandersville Road from Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) to Light Industrial (I-1) zoning. The proposal included specific conditions for buffering and use restrictions.

Multiple speakers participated in the discussion, including Jimmy Emmons, Jon Woodall, Cynthia Bryant, Pat Jones, and Sherry Potter. Additional input came from Steve Bowen, James Monroe, PG Peoples, David Cozart, Ray Stumbo, and Mark McGowan.

The rezoning request involved changing the property from residential zoning that allows planned neighborhood development to light industrial zoning that permits manufacturing, warehousing, and similar commercial activities. The proposed conditions addressed concerns about the transition between industrial and residential uses through required buffering measures and limitations on certain types of industrial operations.

The ordinance was approved by the Council, allowing the property owner to proceed with light industrial development under the specified conditions and restrictions.