Planning Commission Zoning Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on September 23, 2021, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chamber on the 2nd floor of the LFUCG Government Center at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky. The commission addressed seven agenda items during the session, taking seven votes on various zoning matters and development plans. No public comments were heard during this meeting, and no presiding officer was identified in the available records.

The commission accomplished significant business, approving five of the seven items on their agenda. The approved items included the meeting minutes, three zoning map amendments (Lexington Home Ownership, Walker Properties of Central KY, LLC, and an unspecified third amendment), and two zoning development plans (Wilgus Lots for Race on Third and Morningside Market AMD). Two zoning map amendment requests were postponed: one from LATA, LLC and another from Cervantes & Associates, indicating these matters required additional review or information before the commission could make final determinations.

The meeting focused entirely on land use and development matters, reflecting the commission's role in guiding Lexington's growth and zoning decisions. With no public presentations noted and the absence of public comment, the session appears to have been primarily administrative in nature, allowing commissioners to efficiently process pending zoning requests and development proposals.

Attendance

All members were present at the September 23, 2021 meeting.

Present: • Ivy Barksdale • Headley Bell • Janice Meyer • Frank Penn • Zach Davis • Larry Forester • Robin Michler • Bruce Nicol

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included seven formal votes on various planning matters, with all items receiving unanimous approval or postponement.

Minutes Approval 0:30 The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the August 26, 2021 meeting, with Ivy Barksdale providing the second to the motion.

Postponements Two zoning map amendment cases were postponed by unanimous consent: - PLN-MAR-18-00023: LATA, LLC zoning map amendment was postponed to October 28, 2021 3:00 - PLN-MAR-21-00008: Cervantes & Associates zoning map amendment was postponed to November 11, 2021 6:00

Approved Items Five development proposals received unanimous approval with conditions:

• PLN-MAR-21-00010: Lexington Home Ownership zoning map amendment was approved subject to eight conditions, with Bill providing the second 15:00

• PLN-MJDP-21-00040: Wilgus Lots (Race on Third) zoning development plan was approved subject to eight conditions 17:00

• PLN-MAR-21-00011: Walker Properties of Central KY, LLC zoning map amendment was approved with revised staff report and 20 conditions. Frank Penn made the motion and Bruce Nicol provided the second 30:00

• PLN-MJDP-21-00033: Morningside Market (AMD) zoning development plan was approved with 13 conditions, with Headley Bell providing the second 35:00

All votes were recorded as unanimous, though specific vote counts and individual member positions were not documented in the available records. The conditions attached to approved items were referenced but not detailed in the voting records.

Approval of Minutes

0:30

The board considered the approval of minutes from the August 26, 2021 meeting. The minutes were presented for review and approval without recorded discussion or debate from board members.

The minutes were approved as presented.

LATA, LLC Zoning Map Amendment

3:00

The Planning Commission considered petition PLN-MAR-18-00023, a zoning map amendment request from LATA, LLC for property located at 1800 Bryant Road. The petition sought to rezone the property from its current restricted Highway Service Business (B-3) designation to a Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) zone.

Bruce Simpson served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item.

The Commission ultimately decided to postpone consideration of the LATA, LLC zoning map amendment request. No final action was taken on the petition during this meeting, and the item will be rescheduled for future consideration.

The postponement means the property at 1800 Bryant Road will retain its current B-3 zoning classification until the Commission revisits this petition at a later date.

Cervantes & Associates Zoning Map Amendment

6:00

The Planning Commission considered agenda item PLN-MAR-21-00008, a petition by Cervantes & Associates for a zoning map amendment affecting properties located at 505 and 519 W. New Circle Road. The proposal sought to rezone these properties from Highway Service Business (B-3) to Neighborhood Business (B-1).

Mark McCain served as a key speaker during the discussion of this zoning amendment request.

The commission ultimately decided to postpone consideration of the Cervantes & Associates zoning map amendment. No final action was taken on the petition during this meeting, and the item will be rescheduled for future consideration.

The proposed rezoning would have changed the zoning classification from B-3, which typically allows for highway-oriented commercial uses, to B-1, which generally permits neighborhood-scale business activities. However, the specific details of the discussion, including any concerns raised by commissioners or members of the public, were not captured in the available meeting materials.

Lexington Home Ownership Zoning Map Amendment

15:00

The Planning Commission considered petition PLN-MAR-21-00010, a request to rezone five properties from Neighborhood Business (B-1) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3). The properties affected by this zoning map amendment are located at 309, 311, and 315 Race Street, along with 431 and 433 E. Third Street.

Key speakers during the discussion included Hal Baillie and Tom Martin, who presented information regarding the proposed zone change. The petition sought to transition these properties from commercial zoning that allows neighborhood business uses to a residential classification that permits planned neighborhood development.

The Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) zoning designation would allow for residential development appropriate to the area's character while providing flexibility for planned development approaches. This represents a shift from the current Neighborhood Business (B-1) zoning, which permits small-scale commercial and mixed-use development.

Following discussion of the petition, the Planning Commission voted to approve the zoning map amendment. The approval allows the properties to move forward under the R-3 zoning classification, enabling residential development that aligns with the Planned Neighborhood Residential standards and requirements.

This zoning change affects a cluster of properties in the Race Street and E. Third Street area, representing a transition from potential commercial use to planned residential development in this section of Lexington.

Wilgus Lots (Race on Third) Zoning Development Plan

17:00

The commission reviewed agenda item PLN-MJDP-21-00040, the Wilgus Lots (Race on Third) Zoning Development Plan. Tom Martin served as a key speaker during the discussion of this development proposal.

The item involved consideration of a zoning development plan for the Wilgus Lots project, also known as Race on Third. While specific details of the presentation and debate were not captured in the available materials, the commission engaged in discussion regarding the proposed development.

Following their review and deliberation, the commission approved the Wilgus Lots (Race on Third) Zoning Development Plan. The approval was granted subject to conditions, though the specific conditions were not detailed in the available summary materials.

The approval represents a step forward in the development process for this project, allowing it to proceed under the established zoning framework with the stipulated requirements that must be met as part of the approval conditions.

Walker Properties of Central KY, LLC Zoning Map Amendment

30:00

The planning commission considered petition PLN-MAR-21-00011, a zoning map amendment request from Walker Properties of Central KY, LLC to rezone properties located at 720-740 National Avenue from Wholesale and Warehouse Business (B-4) to a restricted Light Industrial (I-1) zone.

Key speakers during the discussion included Hal Baillie and Tom Martin, who presented details about the proposed zoning change and its implications for the properties on National Avenue.

The petition sought to transition the zoning designation from the current B-4 classification, which allows wholesale and warehouse business operations, to a restricted I-1 zone that would permit light industrial uses while maintaining certain limitations on the scope of industrial activities allowed on the site.

Following the presentation and discussion of the zoning amendment request, the planning commission voted to approve petition PLN-MAR-21-00011. The approval allows Walker Properties of Central KY, LLC to proceed with the requested zone change from B-4 to restricted Light Industrial (I-1) for the properties at 720-740 National Avenue.

The successful zoning amendment will enable the property owner to utilize the site for light industrial purposes within the parameters established by the restricted I-1 zoning classification, representing a shift from the previous wholesale and warehouse business designation.

Morningside Market (AMD) Zoning Development Plan

35:00

The commission reviewed the Morningside Market (AMD) Zoning Development Plan under case identifier PLN-MJDP-21-00033. Tom Martin served as the key speaker presenting the development proposal.

The development plan for Morningside Market was presented for consideration, though specific details about the project scope, location, or proposed improvements were not detailed in the available materials. The discussion focused on the zoning development plan requirements and compliance with applicable regulations.

Following the presentation and discussion, the commission approved the Morningside Market (AMD) Zoning Development Plan. The approval was granted subject to conditions, though the specific conditions attached to the approval were not specified in the available documentation.

The approval allows the development to proceed in accordance with the submitted plans and any stipulated requirements established by the commission during their review process.