Urban County Council Zone Change

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government held a meeting on September 2, 2021, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice Mayor Kay presiding. The meeting focused on a single agenda item, Ordinance 0379-20, which was ultimately denied by the council. During the proceedings, the council heard from 6 members of the public who provided comments on the matter under consideration. The meeting resulted in 1 formal vote being taken on the ordinance before the council.

Attendance

Present: • Baxter • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Kay • Kloiber • Lamb • LeGris • Moloney • Plomin • Sheehan • Bledsoe (arrived late)

Absent: • McCurn • Reynolds • Worley

Late Arrival: • Bledsoe

Twelve members were present for the September 2, 2021 meeting, with three members absent. Bledsoe arrived after the meeting had begun.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted one roll call vote during the meeting on a zoning change ordinance.

Ordinance 0379-20 8:45 - An Ordinance changing the zone from a Single Family Residential (R-1C) zone to a Professional Office (P-1) zone for property located at 1918 and 1922 Nicholasville Rd. The motion was made by F. Brown and seconded by Plomin. The ordinance failed by a vote of 5 ayes, 6 nays, and 1 abstention.

Voting in favor (5): - Baxter - Bledsoe - J. Brown - Kloiber - Moloney

Voting against (6): - F. Brown - Kay - Lamb - LeGris - Plomin - Sheehan

Abstaining (1): - One council member abstained (name not specified in the data)

The failed zoning change would have converted residential property to allow professional office use at the Nicholasville Road location. The ordinance did not receive the necessary votes to pass, with the opposition citing concerns not detailed in the available voting record.

Public Comment

Six residents spoke during the public comment period, all addressing concerns related to a proposed zoning change 6:21.

Joe Chappell opposed the zoning change, emphasizing the neighborhood's history of community engagement and preservation efforts. He highlighted the community's longstanding commitment to maintaining the area's character.

Andy Mead expressed concerns about increased traffic on Edgemoor Drive that would result from the proposed zoning change. He focused on the potential impact of additional vehicle traffic on the residential street.

Kim Gersony also raised traffic and infrastructure concerns related to the proposed zoning change. She highlighted how the development could strain existing infrastructure and worsen traffic conditions in the area.

Mike Brower argued that the current zoning provides a natural boundary for the neighborhood that should be preserved. He contended that maintaining the existing zoning designation would help protect the neighborhood's defined borders.

Molly Davis urged the council to preserve the neighborhood's integrity and follow the planning commission's recommendation. She emphasized the importance of maintaining the area's character and supporting the planning commission's guidance on the matter.

Amy Clark discussed high vacancy rates for office space in the area and argued against the need for additional P-1 zoning. She questioned whether there was sufficient demand to justify expanding professional office zoning given existing vacant properties.

All speakers appeared to oppose the zoning change, citing concerns about traffic impacts, neighborhood character, infrastructure capacity, and market demand for office space. The comments reflected coordinated community opposition to the proposed zoning modification.

Contested Items

The council addressed one contested zoning matter during the September 2, 2021 meeting that generated significant community opposition.

Zoning Change for 1918 and 1922 Nicholasville Road

A proposed zoning change for properties located at 1918 and 1922 Nicholasville Road faced substantial resistance from local residents. The Southern Heights Neighborhood Association organized opposition to the zoning request, expressing concerns about the potential impact on their community.

The neighborhood association's opposition proved effective, as the council ultimately denied the proposed zoning change. The denial reflected the council's consideration of community input and the organized resistance from affected residents who felt the zoning modification would negatively affect their neighborhood character or quality of life.

This contested item demonstrates the role of neighborhood associations in the local zoning process and their ability to influence municipal decision-making when residents unite around shared concerns about proposed developments in their area.

Ordinance 0379-20

5:05

The council considered Ordinance 0379-20, which proposed rezoning properties at 1918 and 1922 Nicholasville Road from Single Family Residential (R-1C) to Professional Office (P-1). The ordinance faced significant community opposition during the meeting.

Key speakers during the discussion included Hal Baillie, Nathan Billings, and Jessica Winters, who presented various perspectives on the proposed zoning change. The rezoning request would have allowed professional office use on properties currently zoned for single-family residential development.

Community members expressed concerns about the potential impact of converting residential properties to commercial office use in the area. The opposition centered on how the zoning change might affect the character of the neighborhood and surrounding residential properties.

After hearing from speakers and considering the community feedback, the council ultimately denied the ordinance. The disapproval means the properties at 1918 and 1922 Nicholasville Road will retain their current Single Family Residential (R-1C) zoning designation rather than being converted to Professional Office (P-1) use.