Planning Commission Subdivision Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission met on September 10, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. via video teleconference, with Larry Forester presiding. The Commission considered 14 agenda items during the meeting, taking 10 motions and votes and hearing 8 public comments.

Of the 14 items on the agenda, 10 were approved, including projects such as the Minnie M Sharp Property, Distillery District – West Unit 1, The Interchange (Lexington Green) Outlot C, Webb Property Office Park Unit 2 Block A Lot 1-B, Indian Hills Subdivision (Lexington Vein Center), Morningside Addition Subdivision (Blue Door Smokehouse Expansion), Arcadia Investments Lot 2, The Peninsula and Squires Apartments, Great House Property (The Village at Great Acres), Shriners Hospital, and Meadowcrest. Three items were postponed: Investment Properties of Lexington (Campbell House Inn, Lot 2), Blackford Property (Phase 4), and Lexington Mall Property Lot 6-A (LFUCG).

Attendance

Present: Anthony de Movellan, Bruce Nicol, Carolyn Plumlee, Frank Penn, Ivy Barksdale, Janice Meyer, Graham Pohl, Zach Davis, William Wilson, Jim Duncan, Traci Wade, Tom Martin, Hal Baillie, Valerie Friedmann, Jimmy Emmons, Samantha Castro, Cheryl Gallt, Lauren Hedge, Stephanie Cunningham, Donna Lewis, Allison Morris, Captain Greg Lengal, Deepika Eyunni, Hillard Newman, Vaughan Adkins, Tracy Jones

Absent: Headley Bell

Late: Carolyn Plumlee, Ivy Barksdale

Votes and Decisions

Postponements

The board postponed three items by voice vote with no opposition:

• PLN-MJDP-19-00074: Blackford Property (Phase 4), postponed on motion by Frank Penn, seconded by Anthony de Movellan 1:14:54
• PLN-MJDP-20-00029: Lexington Mall Property, Lot 6-A (AMD), postponed on motion by William Wilson, seconded by Anthony de Movellan 1:17:42
• PLN-MJDP-20-00047: Investment Properties of Lexington (Campbell House Inn, Lot 2) (AMD), postponed on motion by Anthony de Movellan, seconded by Graham Pohl 1:19:14

Meadowcrest Subdivision Plan

A motion to disapprove PLN-MJSUB-20-00004: Meadowcrest (AMD) preliminary subdivision plan failed by voice vote with 4 ayes and 5 nays, with 1 abstention 1:20:33. The motion was made by Graham Pohl and seconded by Carolyn Plumlee. Voting for disapproval were Graham Pohl, Frank Penn, William Wilson, and Janice Meyer. Voting against were Anthony de Movellan, Ivy Barksdale, Larry Forester, Zach Davis, and Nick Nicholson. Bruce Nicol abstained.

A subsequent motion to approve the plan with conditions and waiver passed by voice vote with 7 ayes and 2 nays 1:55:16. Anthony de Movellan moved approval, seconded by Nick Nicholson. Voting for approval were Anthony de Movellan, Ivy Barksdale, Larry Forester, Zach Davis, Graham Pohl, Frank Penn, and William Wilson. Voting against were Bruce Nicol and Janice Meyer. The approval included 17 conditions addressing access management, stormwater management, tree protection, traffic calming, plan corrections, and building specifications.

Other Approvals

The board approved by voice vote with no opposition:

• PLN-MJDP-20-00042: Great House Property (The Village at Great Acres) (AMD), on motion by Carolyn Plumlee, seconded by Graham Pohl, with 15 conditions 1:09:31
• PLN-MJDP-20-00043: Shriners Hospital (AMD), on motion by Carolyn Plumlee, seconded by Janice Meyer, with 13 conditions 1:16:26
• Consent Agenda items, on motion by Graham Pohl, seconded by William Wilson 1:24:24
• Performance bonds and letters of credit, on motion by William Wilson, seconded by Bruce Nicol 1:25:28
• Appointment of members to Floodplain Appeals Committee, on motion by Carolyn Plumlee, seconded by William Wilson 1:25:34

Public Comment

Eight speakers addressed the commission during the public comment period, expressing views on a proposed development project and related infrastructure concerns.

Support for Development

Norwood Cowgill [02:27:17] expressed support for the Meadowcrest development plan, emphasizing that a traffic signal is necessary to attract businesses and create jobs, and stated that without the signal, the property cannot be developed successfully.

Bill Sisson [02:41:41] expressed support for the joint development with Calgill Properties, emphasizing the importance of creating a unified campus for economic growth and community benefit.

Council Member McCurney [02:35:59] supported the proposal as a proactive solution that would benefit the community without requiring taxpayer funding, and encouraged approval for economic development.

Deborah Sloan [03:02:05] conveyed strong support from Council Member Higgins Ward, who emphasized the importance of safe access to the hospital and the success of the economic development parcel.

Safety Concerns

Council Member Kathy Plowman [02:28:58] shared personal experience of living near Hume Road and emphasized the dangerous conditions at the intersection with Winchester Road, urging the commission to consider the safety of residents and students.

Bart Rogers [02:38:16] noted that drivers often mistake Hume Road for the I-75 on-ramp, leading to dangerous situations, including tractor trailers entering church parking lots. He strongly supported the proposal.

Specific Requests

Karen Hill [02:32:15] highlighted the projected 20,000–24,000 annual visits to the new emergency room at Baptist Health and stressed the need for multiple egress points for patients and emergency vehicles.

Richard Murphy [02:34:22] requested an easement over KU property to allow access to the new traffic signal for the Mildred Miller Estate, which is adjacent to the proposed development.

Appointments

The following individuals were appointed to the Floodplain Appeals Committee:

• Doug Mynear
• Fred Eastridge
• Bill Hodges

Contested Items

Meadowcrest (AMD) Preliminary Subdivision Plan

The preliminary subdivision plan for Meadowcrest (AMD) generated significant disagreement among decision-makers. The core dispute centered on access management and Environmental Assessment and Mitigation Plan (EAMP) compliance requirements for the proposed development.

The initial vote on the plan resulted in rejection by a 4-5 margin, indicating deep division within the voting body. However, the matter was reconsidered through a revised motion that included specific conditions and a waiver provision. This modified approach ultimately secured approval, suggesting that the additional conditions and waiver addressed some of the concerns raised during the initial vote.

The contested nature of this item reflects fundamental disagreements about how to balance the subdivision's development with environmental and access management standards, though the specific conditions and waiver terms are not detailed in the available records.

Minnie M Sharp Property (10/31/20)

Identifier: PLN-FRP-20-00041

The final subdivision plan for the Minnie M Sharp Property was approved by the Planning Commission as part of the Consent Agenda 1:20:16.

Approval and Conditions

The approval included the following conditions:

• Utility and street light easements
• Stormwater approval
• Sewer approval
• Septic tank approval requirement

Key Speaker

Traci Wade presented this item to the Planning Commission.

Outcome

The final subdivision plan was approved.

Distillery District – West, Unit 1 (8/6/20)

Overview

This agenda item, identified as PLN-MJDP-20-00022, addressed an amendment to add a new residential building and revise uses in an existing building at the Distillery District – West location. 1:20:48

Approval and Conditions

The amendment was approved as part of the Consent Agenda. The approval included the following conditions:

• Completion of sidewalk work
• Building height notation in project documentation

Key Speaker

Traci Wade presented this item to the body.

Outcome

The amendment was approved.

The Interchange (Lexington Green) (Outlot C) (AMD) (10/31/20)

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00038

This amendment to The Interchange (Lexington Green) project was presented by Traci Wade 1:21:18. The proposal involved adding a drive-through facility and relocating parking spaces within Outlot C of the development.

The amendment was approved as part of the Consent Agenda. The approval included specific conditions to ensure compliance with project standards:

• Vehicle spacing requirements
• Maintenance of existing building dimensions

The item was processed and approved without additional discussion or debate noted in the meeting record.

Webb Property Office Park, Unit 2, Block A, Lot 1-B (AMD) (10/31/20)

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00040

An amendment to the Webb Property Office Park project was presented for consideration. 1:21:58

Project Details

The amendment proposed a 5,000 square foot addition to Unit 2, Block A, Lot 1-B of the Webb Property Office Park.

Approval and Conditions

The amendment was approved as part of the Consent Agenda. The approval included the following conditions:

• A north arrow must be included on the plan
• The addition must be depicted on the overall plan

Key Participant

Traci Wade was the key speaker on this agenda item.

Outcome

The amendment was approved.

Indian Hills Subdivision (Lexington Vein Center) (AMD) (10/31/20)

Project Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00041

Overview

This agenda item addressed an amendment to the Indian Hills Subdivision project, which includes the Lexington Vein Center. The amendment was presented for approval during the meeting.

Key Speaker

Traci Wade presented information on this agenda item.

Amendment Details

The amendment proposed two modifications to the project:

• Reduction of the rear landscape buffer
• Removal of the tree protection area

Outcome

The amendment was approved as part of the Consent Agenda. However, approval was contingent upon a condition requiring resolution of the removal of the tree protection area.

1:22:39

Morningside Addition Subdivision (Blue Door Smokehouse Expansion) (10/31/20)

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00044

The amendment to expand the Morningside Addition Subdivision development was approved as part of the Consent Agenda 1:23:14.

Key Speaker: - Traci Wade

Outcome: The amendment was approved with conditions. The approval included requirements to darken property boundaries and clarify building dimensions for the Blue Door Smokehouse expansion project.

Arcadia Investments, Lot 2 (AMD) (10/31/20)

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00045

Overview

This agenda item addressed an amendment to the Arcadia Investments, Lot 2 project. The amendment was approved as part of the Consent Agenda. 1:23:44

Key Speaker

Traci Wade presented on this item.

Approval and Conditions

The amendment to add building square footage and revise parking was approved with the following conditions:

• Updating site statistics
• Resolving the required VUA (Vesting Tentative Tract Map or similar entitlement)

Outcome

The item was approved.

The Peninsula (A Portion of) and Squires Apartments (AMD) (10/31/20)

Project Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00046

Outcome: Approved

The amendment to The Peninsula (A Portion of) and Squires Apartments was approved as part of the Consent Agenda 1:24:24. The amendment proposed revisions to parking and building types for the project.

Key Speaker: - Traci Wade

Conditions of Approval:

The approval included a condition requiring Board of Adjustment approval of the clubhouse.

Investment Properties of Lexington (Campbell House Inn, Lot 2) (AMD) (10/31/20)

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00047

Overview

This agenda item addressed an amendment to the Investment Properties of Lexington project concerning the Campbell House Inn, Lot 2. The discussion focused on proposed revisions to parking arrangements and the addition of access to Parkway Drive.

Key Speaker

Tom Martin presented on this matter.

Discussion and Concerns

The amendment proposal generated concerns among those reviewing the project, with three primary issues identified:

• Access to the property
• Right-of-way improvements
• Apartment land use

Outcome

The amendment was postponed to October 8, 2020, to allow for further consideration of the raised concerns and additional work on the proposal.

Transcript Reference

1:19:14

Blackford Property (Phase 4) (8/6/20)

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-19-00074

The discussion of the Blackford Property Phase 4 development plan took place at approximately 1:14:54.

Key Speakers

Nick Nicholson and Tom Martin led the discussion on this agenda item.

Outcome

The development plan was postponed to October 8, 2020.

Concerns Raised

Two primary issues prompted the postponement:

• Access concerns — Questions were raised regarding access to the property that required further resolution.
• Density transfer documents — Documentation needed to meet zoning requirements was not yet available and must be provided before the item can move forward.

The postponement allows time for these outstanding issues to be addressed before the matter is brought back for consideration.

Lexington Mall Property, Lot 6-A (LFUCG) (AMD) (8/30/20)

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00029

Overview

This agenda item addressed an amendment to the Lexington Mall Property, Lot 6-A project. The discussion centered on a proposed 10,000 square foot structure addition to the property.

Key Discussion

Tom Martin presented on this matter 1:17:42. The amendment proposal raised concerns from the reviewing body regarding two primary issues: pedestrian connectivity and zoning compliance. These concerns were significant enough to warrant further review before approval could be considered.

Outcome

The amendment was postponed to October 8, 2020, to allow time to address the identified concerns about pedestrian connectivity and zoning compliance.

Great House Property (The Village at Great Acres) (AMD) (10/31/20)

Project Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00042

Overview

The board discussed an amendment to the Great House Property development, known as The Village at Great Acres, regarding plans to develop townhouses and apartments on the site.

Key Participants

Tom Martin presented on this agenda item 1:09:31.

Outcome

The amendment was approved with conditions. The approval included requirements for traffic calming measures and trail delineation to be implemented as part of the development.

Shriners Hospital (AMD) (10/31/20)

Overview

This agenda item addressed an amendment (PLN-MJDP-20-00043) concerning the repurposing of the Shriners Hospital building. 1:16:26

Key Speaker

Tom Martin presented on this matter.

Outcome

The amendment to repurpose the building was approved with conditions. The approval included requirements for professional office status and correction of the plan title.

Meadowcrest (AMD) (9/29/20)

Project Identifier: PLN-MJSUB-20-00004

The preliminary subdivision plan for Meadowcrest was discussed and approved with conditions and a waiver for access. 1:55:16

Key Participants

The discussion involved Tom Martin, Jimmy Emmons, Nick Nicholson, Mark McIntosh, and Stephen Garland.

Discussion Topics

The meeting included a lengthy discussion addressing traffic, safety, and Environmental Assessment and Mitigation Plan (EAMP) compliance. These three areas were central to the board's review of the preliminary subdivision plan.

Outcome

The preliminary subdivision plan was approved with the following provisions:

• Conditions were imposed on the approval
• A waiver for access was granted