Planning Commission Zoning Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission held a meeting on January 27, 2022, at 1:30 PM via video teleconference. The commission addressed three main agenda items during the session, including the approval of minutes from a previous meeting, consideration of a zoning map amendment request from Harrodsburg Road LLC, and the initiation of a zoning ordinance text amendment.

During the meeting, the commission conducted five motions and votes on various matters before them. Three members of the public provided comments during the public comment period, offering input on items under consideration. The commission approved the meeting minutes and moved forward with initiating a zoning ordinance text amendment, while denying the Harrodsburg Road LLC zoning map amendment request. The meeting was conducted remotely, reflecting continued adaptations to public meeting formats during the ongoing pandemic period.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on January 27, 2022:

• Headley Bell
• Janice Meyer
• Judy Worth
• Vaughan Adkins

No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The commission took action on five items during the January 27, 2022 meeting.

Minutes Approval 0:30 The commission approved the minutes from the December 16, 2021 meeting by voice vote on a motion by a Commissioner.

PLN-MAR-21-00020 Postponement 2:00 The Chairman moved to postpone the zoning map amendment request for 340 Legion Drive, with a second by Ms. Meyer. The motion passed by voice vote, postponing the item to February 10, 2022.

PLN-MAR-21-00016 Zoning Amendment 3:00 Mr. Nicol moved to approve the zoning map amendment for Harrodsburg Road LLC, seconded by Mr. Penn. The motion failed on a roll call vote, with only Mr. Nicol and Mr. Penn voting in favor.

Development Plan Postponement 3:30 Following the failed zoning amendment, Mr. Nicol moved for indefinite postponement of the development plan for Harrodsburg Road LLC. The motion passed by voice vote.

Zoning Text Amendment Initiation 4:00 Ms. Meyer moved to initiate a zoning ordinance text amendment regarding family childcare facilities. The motion passed by voice vote.

All voice votes passed without recorded opposition except for the Harrodsburg Road LLC zoning map amendment, which failed to receive sufficient support despite having two commissioners voting in favor.

Public Comment

Three residents spoke during the public comment period, all expressing support for a zoning proposal under consideration.

Scott Sandberg addressed the board first 2:30, voicing his support for the proposal that includes townhomes and density that complements the existing neighborhood. He indicated the development would be compatible with the surrounding area.

Carl followed 2:35, also expressing support for the same zoning proposal. Like Sandberg, he emphasized that the townhomes and proposed density would complement the existing neighborhood character.

Sam Dunne concluded the public comment period 2:40 by expressing support for the proposed development. Dunne specifically cited the proposal's compatibility with the neighborhood as a key reason for his endorsement.

All three speakers focused exclusively on the zoning proposal, with no opposition voiced during this portion of the meeting. The consistent theme among the commenters was support for the development based on its perceived compatibility with the existing neighborhood and appropriate density levels for the area.

Contested Items

The January 27, 2022 meeting featured one primary contested item that drew significant community opposition.

Harrodsburg Road LLC Zoning Map Amendment

The Harrodsburg Road LLC Zoning Map Amendment proposal encountered substantial resistance from community members during the meeting. The primary concerns raised by opponents centered on two key issues: potential traffic impacts and questions about the proposal's compatibility with the existing neighborhood character.

Community members who spoke against the amendment expressed worries that the proposed zoning change would generate additional traffic in an area already experiencing congestion concerns. Residents also questioned whether the development that would be enabled by the zoning amendment would be appropriate for the surrounding neighborhood context.

The opposition appeared to be organized, with multiple community members voicing similar concerns about the traffic and compatibility issues. This level of coordinated community engagement suggested that local residents had been actively discussing and organizing around their opposition to the proposal prior to the meeting.

The structured nature of the community opposition, focusing on specific impacts like traffic generation and neighborhood compatibility, indicated that residents had conducted their own analysis of the potential effects of the zoning change. These are common concerns raised in zoning amendment cases, as community members often worry about how changes to land use regulations might affect their daily lives and property values.

The meeting materials do not specify the ultimate outcome of this contested item or whether the commission took action on the Harrodsburg Road LLC Zoning Map Amendment during this session.

Approval of Minutes

0:30

The commission considered the approval of minutes from their previous meeting held on December 16, 2021. A Commissioner presented the minutes for review and approval by the body.

The minutes were approved without recorded discussion or amendments, indicating no concerns were raised regarding the accuracy or completeness of the December 16, 2021 meeting record.

Outcome: The minutes from the December 16, 2021 meeting were approved.

Harrodsburg Road LLC Zoning Map Amendment

3:00

The Planning Commission considered agenda item PLN-MAR-21-00016, a zoning map amendment request from Harrodsburg Road LLC to rezone property from Agricultural Urban to Highway Service Business and Planned Neighborhood Residential.

Key speakers during the discussion included Bruce Simpson and Hal Baillie, who presented details about the proposed zoning changes and addressed questions from commissioners.

The request sought to change the current Agricultural Urban zoning designation to allow for both commercial Highway Service Business uses and residential Planned Neighborhood Residential development on the property. This type of mixed-use rezoning would enable different types of development than what is currently permitted under the existing agricultural zoning.

Following discussion and consideration of the proposal, the Planning Commission voted to deny the zoning map amendment request. The denial means the property will retain its current Agricultural Urban zoning classification, and the applicant would need to submit a new application or appeal the decision to pursue the proposed zoning changes.

The specific concerns raised during the discussion or the reasoning behind the commission's decision to deny the request were not detailed in the available information, but the outcome represents a rejection of the proposed zoning changes for this Harrodsburg Road property.

Initiation of Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment

4:00

The council considered a staff request to initiate a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance concerning family childcare facilities in residential zones. Ms. Meyer presented the item on behalf of staff.

The proposed text amendment would address regulations for family childcare facilities operating within residential zoning districts. Staff requested the council's approval to begin the formal amendment process, which would allow for further development and public review of specific regulatory changes.

The council approved the staff's request to initiate the zoning ordinance text amendment process. This approval allows staff to proceed with drafting the specific language for the amendment and scheduling the required public hearings and review procedures.

The initiation represents the first step in what will be a multi-stage process to modify how family childcare facilities are regulated in residential areas within the municipality's zoning code.