URBAN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION-SUBDIVISION ITEMS

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on June 12, 2008, at 1:32 PM in the Council Chambers of the Urban County Government Building at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Linda Godfrey presiding as the meeting chair. The Commission addressed three main agenda items during the session, including the approval of meeting minutes and two items related to the Southend Park, Section 1 development project involving both a zone map amendment and zoning development plan.

Throughout the meeting, the Commission conducted 16 motions and votes on various matters before them. The session included significant public participation, with 11 public comments heard from community members regarding the items under consideration. All three primary agenda items were approved by the Commission, including the routine approval of minutes from a previous meeting and both components of the Southend Park development proposal - the zone map amendment and the associated zoning development plan for Section 1 of the project.

The meeting demonstrated active civic engagement with substantial public input on the development matters, reflecting community interest in the planning decisions affecting the Southend Park area. The Commission's approval of both the zoning amendment and development plan indicates the project met the necessary regulatory requirements and planning standards for moving forward in the development process.

Attendance

The Commission meeting on June 12, 2008 had strong attendance with 10 members present and 1 absent.

Present: • Linda Godfrey • Carolyn Richardson • Joan Whitman (arrived late) • Lynn Roche-Phillips • Lyle Aten • Mike Cravens • James Mahan • Neill Day (arrived late) • Ed Holmes • Frank Penn

Absent: • Randall Vaughn

Late Arrivals: • Joan Whitman • Neill Day

The meeting proceeded with a quorum of members in attendance.

Votes and Decisions

The Commission conducted 16 votes during the June 12, 2008 meeting, with all motions passing unanimously by voice vote.

Administrative Actions The meeting began with approval of the April 10, 2008 minutes, motioned by James Mahan and seconded by Frank Penn, passing 8-0.

Postponements to July 10, 2008 The Commission postponed nine development items to the July 10, 2008 meeting, all passing 8-0:

• DP 2008-77 (Michael Gentry Property) - motioned by Frank Penn, seconded by James Mahan
• DP 2008-79 (Cardinal Hill Hospital) - motioned by Frank Penn, seconded by Lyle Aten
• DP 2008-80 (Chevy Chase Subdivision) - motioned by James Mahan, seconded by Frank Penn
• PLAN 2008-71P (Hampton Springs) - motioned by Frank Penn, seconded by Lyle Aten
• PLAN 2008-24F and PLAN 2008-25F (Thomas Communications, Inc.) - motioned by Lyle Aten, seconded by James Mahan
• PLAN 2008-9P (Hillenmeyer Property) - motioned by Carolyn Richardson, seconded by Lyle Aten
• PLAN 2008-44F (High Mount Subdivision) - motioned by Lyle Aten, seconded by Ed Holmes
• DP 2008-51 (Palumbo Property) - motioned by Frank Penn, seconded by Lyle Aten
• DP 2008-60 (Blackford Town Center) - motioned by Ed Holmes, seconded by Frank Penn

Approvals The Commission approved several items with 9-0 votes:

• Consent agenda items and findings for DP 2008-66 - motioned by Frank Penn, seconded by Joan Whitman
• Reapproval of PLAN 2006-236F (Coons Property, Unit 11) with a 9th condition to correct P-1 zoning information - motioned by Mike Cravens, seconded by James Mahan
• Reapproval of PLAN 2004-310F (Montmullin Street Subdivision) with a 10th condition for Article 4-5(a) compliance documentation - motioned by Joan Whitman, seconded by Carolyn Richardson
• Release and call of bonds, excluding 2429 (2417) Georgetown Road (postponed to June 24, 2008) - motioned by Frank Penn, seconded by Carolyn Richardson

Zone Map Amendment MAR 2008-16 and ZDP 2008-71 for Southend Park, Section 1 both passed 7-0, with Neill Day making the motions and Frank Penn providing seconds. The Commission approved phase one from Versailles Road to McKinley Street while postponing phase two indefinitely.

Public Comment

The Commission heard from eleven community members during the public comment period, with speakers divided on a proposed zone change. 2:00:00

Supporters of the Zone Change:

Five speakers expressed support for the zoning proposal. Regina Cowan opened the public comment period by advocating for the zone change, emphasizing the need for community improvement and a return to a family-friendly environment. 2:00:00 Cynthia Reynolds followed, highlighting community excitement for the project and the necessity for change. 2:05:00

Paul Headley offered qualified support but raised specific concerns about park ownership and R3 zoning designations for single-family areas. 2:10:00 Marian Perkins supported the change, focusing on creating a better environment for future generations. 2:15:00 Kenneth Davis concluded the supporters' comments by stating it was time for improvement in the area. 2:20:00

Opposition to the Zone Change:

Six speakers voiced opposition to the proposed zoning change, primarily citing business and property value concerns. Lawson King opposed the change due to the area's unsuitability for residential use, specifically mentioning noise and flooding issues. 2:25:00

James Caton argued the zone change would make his property non-conforming and reduce its value. 2:30:00 Gerald Ray expressed concerns about losing industrial zoning that supports his construction business. 2:35:00

Bill Bausch spoke on behalf of Harry Gordon Scrap Materials, citing potential devaluation of industrial property. 2:40:00 William Hagan worried about impacts on his manufacturing business and property value. 2:45:00 Kevin McCormick concluded the opposition comments by expressing concerns about limitations on expanding his auto repair business. 2:50:00

The public comments revealed a clear divide between community members seeking residential improvements and business owners concerned about operational and financial impacts.

Contested Items

The Commission meeting on June 12, 2008, featured one primary contested item that generated significant community opposition.

Zone Map Amendment for Southend Park

The most contentious issue of the meeting involved a proposed zone map amendment for the Southend Park area. Several property owners in the affected area voiced strong opposition to the proposed zone change during the public comment period.

The opposition centered on two main concerns:

• Property devaluation concerns - Property owners expressed worry that the zone change would negatively impact the value of their industrial properties in the area

• Business expansion limitations - Existing business owners raised concerns that the new zoning designation would restrict their ability to expand their operations in the future

Multiple property owners spoke against the amendment, though the specific number of speakers and the exact outcome of the vote were not detailed in the available meeting materials. The opposition appeared to be organized, with property owners presenting similar concerns about the economic impact of the proposed zoning changes on the industrial character of the Southend Park area.

The debate highlighted the ongoing tension between development planning initiatives and existing property owner interests, particularly in areas where industrial uses may conflict with other proposed land use designations.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps and the final vote outcome were not available in the provided meeting materials.*

Approval of Minutes

The Commission reviewed and approved the minutes from their April 10, 2008 meeting during this agenda item.

The discussion was led by key speakers James Mahan and Frank Penn, who addressed the accuracy and completeness of the previously recorded meeting minutes. The Commission members had the opportunity to review the documentation from the April meeting and discuss any necessary corrections or clarifications.

Following their review and discussion, the Commission voted to approve the minutes from the April 10, 2008 meeting as presented. The approval ensures that the official record of the previous meeting's proceedings, decisions, and discussions has been formally accepted by the Commission.

This routine but important procedural step maintains the Commission's official documentation and provides a verified record of their prior meeting activities and decisions.

Zone Map Amendment & Southend Park, Section 1 Zoning Development Plan

2:55:00

The Commission considered ordinance MAR 2008-16, a zone map amendment for Southend Park, Section 1, proposing to rezone the area from Light Industrial to a combination of Planned Neighborhood Residential, Mixed Use, and Highway Service Business zones.

Tracy Wade and Andrew Grunwald served as key speakers during the discussion of this zoning development plan. The proposed amendment would facilitate the development of Southend Park, Section 1, by allowing for a mixed-use development that combines residential, commercial, and service business uses in place of the current industrial zoning designation.

The rezoning request represents a significant change in the intended use of the property, transitioning from industrial activities to a more diverse development pattern that would include neighborhood residential components alongside mixed-use and highway service business areas. This type of zoning amendment typically requires careful consideration of compatibility with surrounding land uses, infrastructure capacity, and community development goals.

Following discussion and consideration of the proposal, the Commission approved the zone map amendment for Southend Park, Section 1. The approval allows the development to proceed under the new zoning classifications, enabling the planned mix of residential, commercial, and service business uses as outlined in the zoning development plan.

Southend Park, Section 1 Zoning Development Plan

3:00:00 The Commission reviewed agenda item ZDP 2008-71, the Zoning Development Plan for Southend Park, Section 1. This ordinance was presented in conjunction with the associated zone map amendment for the development project.

Tom Martin served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the zoning development plan to the Commission. The plan outlined the proposed development framework for Section 1 of the Southend Park project, establishing the zoning parameters and development standards that would govern future construction in this area.

The zoning development plan was designed to work in coordination with the previously considered zone map amendment, providing the detailed regulatory framework needed to implement the rezoning. The plan would establish specific development criteria, including permitted uses, building standards, and other zoning requirements for the Southend Park development.

Following the presentation and Commission discussion, the Southend Park, Section 1 Zoning Development Plan was approved. This approval, combined with the zone map amendment, provided the necessary regulatory foundation for the development to proceed according to the established zoning framework.

The approval of ZDP 2008-71 represents a significant step forward in the Southend Park development process, establishing the zoning structure that will guide future development activities in Section 1 of the project.