Planning Commission Subdivision Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission met on January 14, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. via video teleconference, with Larry Forester presiding. The commission considered 11 agenda items, took 12 motions and votes, and heard 2 public comments during the meeting.

The commission approved four items: the Approval of Minutes, the Lexington Mall Property (Planet Fitness Lexington Richmond Road), the Headley, Niven & Vance Property (Chick-fil-A), and the Hamburg East, Tract 4, Lot 1 (Belhurst) project. The Coldstream Research Campus was also approved. Six agenda items were postponed, including the Lexington Mall Property Lot 6-A, Griffin Gate Office Park, Spring Lake, Gess Property Unit 8 Phase 3, Haynes Brothers Properties LLC, and Ball Homes Property & Lillian Hunt (Speedway).

Attendance

Present: Ivy Barksdale, Headley Bell, Larry Forester, Janice Meyer, Frank Penn, Carolyn Plumlee, Graham Pohl, and Bill Wilson

Absent: Zach Davis, Anthony de Movellan, and Bruce Nicol

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

Approval of Minutes 12:10 The minutes from December 17, 2020 were approved unanimously. Motion by Headley Bell, seconded by Janice Meyer. Vote: 8-0.

Lexington Mall Property, Lot 6-A (PLN-MJDP-20-00029) 17:02 Postponed to February 11, 2021. Motion by Bill Wilson, seconded by Janice Meyer. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

Griffin Gate Office Park (PLN-MJDP-20-00057) 20:53 Postponed to February 11, 2021. Motion by Frank Penn, seconded by Carolyn Plumlee. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

Spring Lake (PLN-MJDP-20-00067) 18:35 Postponed to March 11, 2021. Motion by Graham Pohl, seconded by Carolyn Plumlee. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

Gess Property, Unit 8, Phase 3 (PLN-MJDP-20-00078) 19:39 Postponed to March 11, 2021. Motion by Carolyn Plumlee, seconded by Frank Penn. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

Haynes Brothers Properties, LLC (PLN-MJDP-20-00080) 15:57 Postponed to March 11, 2021. Motion by Carolyn Plumlee, seconded by Bill Wilson. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

Lexington Mall Property—Planet Fitness Lexington Richmond Road (PLN-MJDP-20-00050) 33:28 Approved with 13 conditions as listed in the revised staff recommendation. Motion by Headley Bell, seconded by Frank Penn. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

Headley, Niven & Vance Property—Chick-fil-A (PLN-MJDP-20-00054) 44:13 Approved with 12 conditions as listed in the revised staff recommendation. Motion by Frank Penn, seconded by Headley Bell. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

Ball Homes Property & Lillian Hunt—Speedway (PLN-MJDP-20-00076) 1:59:40 Continued to February 11, 2021. Motion by Frank Penn, seconded by Graham Pohl. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

Hamburg East, Tract 4, Lot 1—Belhurst (PLN-MJDP-20-00081) 2:28:07 Approved with 15 conditions as presented by staff. Motion by Frank Penn, seconded by Ivy Barksdale. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

EAMP Compliance Statement for Hamburg East, Tract 4, Lot 1 2:28:41 Approved. Motion by Frank Penn, seconded by Bill Wilson. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

Coldstream Research Campus Development Plan Amendment—Condition 15 (PLN-MJDP-20-00053) 2:43:49 Approved. Motion by Frank Penn, seconded by Bill Wilson. Vote: 8-0 (unanimous).

All votes were unanimous with eight members voting in favor: Ivy Barksdale, Headley Bell, Larry Forester, Janice Meyer, Frank Penn, Carolyn Plumlee, Graham Pohl, and Bill Wilson.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the council regarding the proposed Speedway development.

Paula Singer 1:00:23 expressed opposition to the development, citing concerns about the number of gas stations already present in the area and the potential impact on the community.

Jennifer Reynolds 1:09:53 also raised concerns about the Speedway development, emphasizing the need for affordable housing and community-oriented development as priorities for the area.

Contested Items

Speedway Development Plan

The proposed Speedway development plan generated significant opposition during the meeting. Community members and council members raised concerns about the project, specifically regarding the number of gas stations included in the development and the potential displacement of residents.

The disagreement centered on whether the development plan adequately addressed community needs and protected existing residents from being forced to relocate. The opposition reflected broader concerns about how the development would impact the neighborhood's character and stability.

No outcome regarding the resolution of these concerns is documented in the available meeting materials.

Approval of Minutes

The commission reviewed and approved the minutes from the December 17, 2020 meeting. 12:10

Larry Forester led the discussion on this agenda item. The minutes were approved without noted objections or concerns.

Lexington Mall Property, Lot 6-A

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00029

The commission discussed the development plan for Lexington Mall Property, Lot 6-A during this meeting. 17:02

Rory Kahly was the key speaker on this agenda item. The commission determined that the development plan required postponement to allow additional time for resolving outstanding discussion items that had been raised during the review process.

Outcome: The item was postponed.

Griffin Gate Office Park

The commission discussed the Griffin Gate Office Park development plan, identified as PLN-MJDP-20-00057. 20:53

Scott Southall presented on this agenda item. The commission deliberated on the proposed development, with discussion focusing on parking and use issues that required additional time to resolve.

The commission voted to postpone the Griffin Gate Office Park development plan to allow for further work on these outstanding concerns before proceeding with approval or additional consideration.

Spring Lake

The commission discussed the Spring Lake development plan, identified as PLN-MJDP-20-00067. 18:35

Nick Nicholson was the key speaker on this agenda item. The commission considered postponing the development plan to allow additional time for a cemetery study to be completed.

The agenda item was ultimately postponed, deferring further action on the Spring Lake development plan.

Gess Property, Unit 8, Phase 3

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00078

The commission discussed the Gess Property, Unit 8, Phase 3 development plan 19:39. Nick Nicholson was the key speaker on this agenda item.

The primary focus of the discussion centered on open space requirements for the project. The commission determined that open space issues needed to be resolved before the project could move forward.

Outcome: The item was postponed to allow time to address the open space requirement concerns.

Haynes Brothers Properties, LLC

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00080

The commission discussed the development plan for Haynes Brothers Properties, LLC during this meeting. 15:57

Key Speaker: Matt Carter

Discussion: The commission considered postponing the Haynes Brothers Properties, LLC development plan to allow additional time for potential Board of Adjustment action on the matter.

Outcome: The agenda item was postponed.

Lexington Mall Property (Planet Fitness Lexington Richmond Road)

Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00050

The commission discussed and approved a development plan for Planet Fitness at Lexington Mall on Richmond Road 33:28.

Key Speakers

Cheryl Gallt and Todd Reyling presented and discussed the project with the commission.

Discussion and Conditions

The commission reviewed the development plan and identified conditions necessary for approval. The discussion focused on two primary areas:

• Pedestrian access: The commission raised concerns regarding pedestrian access to and from the proposed Planet Fitness location within the Lexington Mall property.

• Easement release: The commission addressed the release of an easement as part of the development approval process.

Outcome

The commission approved the development plan for Planet Fitness at Lexington Mall, contingent upon the applicant meeting the specified conditions related to pedestrian access and easement release.

Headley, Niven & Vance Property (Chick-fil-A)

Project Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00054

The commission discussed and approved the development plan for a Chick-fil-A restaurant on the Headley, Niven & Vance property 44:13.

Key Participants

Tom Martin and John Wiley were the primary speakers during this discussion.

Outcome

The commission approved the development plan with conditions related to parking and access requirements.

Ball Homes Property & Lillian Hunt (Speedway)

Case Number: PLN-MJDP-20-00076

The commission discussed the Speedway development plan during this agenda item 1:59:40. Key speakers included Tom Martin and Rob Sweet.

The discussion centered on the proposed development and its potential impacts on the community. Concerns were raised regarding community impact and the displacement of residents as a result of the project. These issues prompted substantive debate among commission members about the implications of moving forward with the development as presented.

Outcome: The commission voted to postpone the item, continuing it for further revision. This decision allowed the applicant and staff additional time to address the concerns raised during the discussion before the item returns for future consideration.

Hamburg East, Tract 4, Lot 1 (Belhurst)

Project Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00081

The commission discussed and approved the development plan for Hamburg East, Tract 4, Lot 1 (Belhurst) during this agenda item 2:28:07.

Key Speakers

Tom Martin and Nick Nicholson led the discussion on this project.

Outcome

The commission approved the development plan with conditions. The approval required compliance with specific requirements related to greenway inclusion and adherence to the Expansion Area Master Plan.

Coldstream Research Campus

Project Identifier: PLN-MJDP-20-00053

The commission discussed and approved an amendment to the Coldstream Research Campus development plan. 2:43:49

Key Speakers: - Tracy Wade - Mike Wollum

Discussion and Outcome:

The primary matter under consideration was an amendment allowing an access drive encroachment into the scenic easement for the Coldstream Research Campus project. The commission reviewed this modification to the existing development plan and voted to approve the amendment, permitting the requested encroachment.