Planning Commission Subdivision Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on September 9, 2021, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chambers of the Urban County Government Building, located at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Larry Forester presiding as the meeting officer. The commission addressed three agenda items during the session, all of which received approval: applications for Rosemont Farm, LLC; Kid's House Child Care Center; and Mapleleaf Subdivision, Unit 1, Lot 4. The meeting included seven recorded motions and votes, demonstrating active deliberation on the matters before the commission. Two members of the public provided comments during the proceedings, contributing community input to the decision-making process.

Attendance

The following members were present at the September 9, 2021 meeting:

• Larry Forester
• Ivy Barksdale
• Headley Bell
• Zach Davis
• Anthony de Movellan
• Jan Meyer
• Robin Michler
• Bruce Nicol
• Frank Penn
• Judy Worth

Absent: Graham Pohl

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included seven formal votes, with most items receiving unanimous approval or postponement.

Meeting Minutes Approval 0:02 Frank Penn motioned to approve the minutes from the August 12, 2021 meeting, seconded by Anthony de Movellan. The motion passed with 10 ayes, 0 nays, and 2 abstentions. Voting in favor were Larry Forester, Ivy Barksdale, Headley Bell, Zach Davis, Anthony de Movellan, Robin Michler, Bruce Nicol, and Frank Penn.

Postponements [timestamps: 00:10, 00:15, 02:30] Three items were unanimously postponed: • PLN-MJDP-21-00039 (LFUCG, Millcreek Subdivision, Unit 3 & Jonestown) - motioned by Anthony de Movellan, seconded by Ivy Barksdale • PLN-MJDP-19-00061 (Stonewall Shopping Center) - motioned by Frank Penn, seconded by Anthony de Movellan • PLN-MJDP-21-00032 (Michler, Jennings & Shelton Property) - motioned by Headley Bell, seconded by Zach Davis

All postponements received 10 ayes and 0 nays, with the same nine members voting in favor: Larry Forester, Ivy Barksdale, Headley Bell, Zach Davis, Anthony de Movellan, Robin Michler, Bruce Nicol, Frank Penn, and Judy Worth.

Approvals [timestamps: 01:45, 03:45, 04:00] Three items received unanimous approval: • PLN-MJDP-20-00061 (James R. Massengill Property) - motioned by Headley Bell, seconded by Zach Davis, approved with conditions to "resolve uses between properties and number of cars for sale that can be placed on the property" • PLN-MAR-21-00012 (Anderson Communities, LLC, Zoning Map Amendment) - motioned by Frank Penn, seconded by Bruce Nicol • Variance request for Anderson Communities, LLC - motioned by Frank Penn, seconded by Headley Bell

All approvals received 10 ayes and 0 nays from the same nine voting members.

Public Comment

Two residents spoke during the public comment period regarding new construction at 633 Montclair Drive.

Dean Baskin 4:30 addressed the board with objections to the proposed new construction at 633 Montclair Drive. Baskin expressed specific concerns about the proximity of the planned construction to his property and raised issues about the removal of trees associated with the project.

Charles 4:45 also spoke regarding the same 633 Montclair Drive project, focusing his comments on architectural compatibility concerns. He argued that the proposed new construction does not align with the existing architectural character of the surrounding neighborhood.

Both speakers' comments centered on the same development project, with concerns ranging from immediate property impacts to broader neighborhood character preservation.

Contested Items

Two development proposals faced significant community opposition during the September 9, 2021 meeting, resulting in heated discussions and procedural delays.

Michler, Jennings & Shelton Property

The most contentious issue centered on a development proposal for the Michler, Jennings & Shelton property. Community members raised strong objections to two key aspects of the project: the removal of a significant tree on the property and the proposed access points for the development. The opposition was substantial enough to prompt extensive discussion among board members and community stakeholders. Due to the level of concern expressed and the complexity of the issues raised, the board ultimately decided to postpone the item for further review rather than proceed with a vote. This postponement allows additional time for the developers to address community concerns and for staff to conduct more thorough analysis of the proposed plans.

633 Montclair Drive Construction

The second contested item involved a new construction project at 633 Montclair Drive. Neighboring residents attended the meeting to voice their concerns about the proposed development's potential impact on the established character of their neighborhood. Specific objections focused on how the new construction would affect the surrounding area and concerns about the building's proximity to adjacent properties. Neighbors worried that the scale or design of the proposed structure would be incompatible with existing homes and could negatively impact property values or neighborhood aesthetics.

Both contested items highlight ongoing tensions between development interests and community preservation concerns. The significant community turnout and vocal opposition to these projects demonstrate active neighborhood engagement in the planning process. The board's decision to postpone the Michler, Jennings & Shelton property discussion suggests a willingness to consider community input, while the Montclair Drive discussion reflects typical challenges faced when balancing property rights with neighborhood compatibility concerns.

Rosemont Farm, LLC

The Planning Commission reviewed the final record plat for Rosemont Farm, LLC (PLN-FRP-21-00036), a development located at 851 Muir Station Road and 5222 Paris Pike in Lexington, Kentucky 0:30.

Tom Martin presented the item to the commission. The proposal involved the final platting process for the Rosemont Farm development, which had previously undergone preliminary review and approval stages.

The Subdivision Committee had already reviewed the application and recommended approval with conditions. The committee's recommendation indicated that the development met the necessary technical requirements for subdivision approval, though specific conditions were attached to ensure compliance with local development standards.

During the discussion, the commission considered the committee's findings and recommendation. The development's location along two major thoroughfares - Muir Station Road and Paris Pike - was noted as part of the review process.

The Planning Commission approved the final record plat for Rosemont Farm, LLC, accepting the Subdivision Committee's recommendation and the attached conditions. This approval allows the developer to proceed with the final stages of the subdivision process and begin lot sales and construction activities in accordance with the approved plat and any stipulated requirements.

The approval represents the completion of the formal platting process for this development, following the standard progression from preliminary approval through final record plat approval that is required for new subdivisions in Lexington-Fayette County.

Kid's House Child Care Center

0:45

The commission reviewed agenda item PLN-MJDP-19-00052 for the reapproval of a development plan for Kid's House Child Care Center located at 1449 & 1452 Bryan Ave., Lexington, KY.

Tom Martin presented the item to the commission. The proposal involved reapproving the development plan for the child care facility at the specified Bryan Avenue addresses.

The Subdivision Committee had previously reviewed this development plan and recommended reapproval with the original conditions intact. No modifications to the existing conditions were proposed or discussed during the meeting.

The commission approved the reapproval of the development plan for Kid's House Child Care Center as recommended by the Subdivision Committee, maintaining all original conditions from the previous approval.

Mapleleaf Subdivision, Unit 1, Lot 4

1:00

The commission reviewed agenda item PLN-MJDP-21-00041 for Mapleleaf Subdivision, Unit 1, Lot 4, which proposed an amendment to redevelop the property with 220 multi-family dwelling units, open space, and associated off-street parking.

Tom Martin served as the key speaker during the discussion of this development proposal. The project represents a significant residential development that would bring substantial multi-family housing to the area along with planned open space and parking infrastructure.

Prior to the commission's consideration, the Subdivision Committee had already reviewed the proposal and recommended approval with conditions. The specific conditions attached to the committee's recommendation were not detailed in the available materials, but the committee's positive recommendation appeared to influence the commission's deliberations.

The commission approved the amendment for the Mapleleaf Subdivision development. The approval allows the project to move forward with the proposed 220 multi-family dwelling units and associated amenities, subject to the conditions previously established by the Subdivision Committee.

This approval represents a substantial addition to the local housing stock and demonstrates the commission's support for multi-family residential development that includes both housing units and open space components.