Planning Commission Subdivision Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on February 10, 2022, at 1:30 PM via video teleconference from the Division of Planning on the 7th Floor of 101 E. Vine Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Larry Forester presiding as the presiding officer. The commission addressed five agenda items during the session, with four development plans receiving approval and one item being tabled for future consideration. The approved items included the Don Jacobs Property development (PLN-FRP-21-00056), the LFUCG Millcreek Subdivision Unit 3 & Jonestown project (PLN-MJDP-21-00039), the Liberty Road Service Center (PLN-MJDP-20-00073), and the Jerrico, Inc. Lot 1-B development (PLN-MJDP-22-00001), while the Cowgill, Inc. matter (PLN-MAR-21-00020) was tabled. The commission conducted eight formal votes throughout the meeting and heard one public comment during the proceedings.

Attendance

Present: • Ivy Barksdale • Headley Bell • Zach Davis • Anthony de Movellan • Larry Forester • Bruce Nicol • Graham Pohl • Judy Worth

Absent: • Janice Meyer • Robin Michler • Frank Penn

Late: None

Eight members were present for the February 10, 2022 meeting, with three members absent and no late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The commission took action on eight items during the February 10, 2022 meeting, with all votes passing unanimously 8-0.

Postponements to March 10, 2022:

2:00 Ivy Barksdale moved to postpone PLN-MJDP-21-00073: KINGSTON HALL, UNIT 1, LOT 10 & KINGSTON HALL, UNIT 2, LOTS 14-18. Judy Worth seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

4:00 Anthony de Movellan moved to postpone PLN-MJDP-21-00050: RAMSEY/SULLIVAN PROPERTY, LOT 4. Graham Pohl seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

6:00 Graham Pohl moved to postpone PLN-MJDP-21-00067: NEWTOWN SPRINGS, UNIT 1, LOT 2. Ivy Barksdale seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Approvals:

10:00 Graham Pohl moved to approve PLN-FRP-21-00056: DON JACOBS PROPERTY, BLK A, LOTS 6 & 7 with conditions and waiver. Headley Bell seconded. The motion passed unanimously, subject to 14 conditions as listed in the revised staff recommendation, including findings for the requested waiver and use of access easements as sole access.

20:00 Anthony de Movellan moved to approve PLN-MJDP-21-00039: LFUCG, MILLCREEK SUBDIVISION, UNIT 3 & JONESTOWN with conditions. Bruce Nicol seconded. The motion passed unanimously, subject to the first 13 conditions as listed, changing discussion items #15-#19 to read 'Resolve,' and adopting the note language as proposed.

30:00 Anthony de Movellan moved to extend approval of PLN-MJDP-20-00073: LIBERTY ROAD SERVICE CENTER for one year. Judy Worth seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

40:00 Headley Bell moved to approve PLN-MJDP-22-00001: JERRICO, INC., LOT 1-B with conditions. Graham Pohl seconded. The motion passed unanimously, subject to 10 conditions as listed in the revised staff recommendation.

50:00 Headley Bell moved to continue discussion of PLN-MAR-21-00020: COWGILL, INC. to March 10, 2022. Graham Pohl seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

All voting members present - Ivy Barksdale, Headley Bell, Zach Davis, Anthony de Movellan, Larry Forester, Bruce Nicol, Graham Pohl, and Judy Worth - voted in favor of each motion.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the meeting to share concerns about a proposed development project.

Peter Brown spoke regarding parking concerns for project PLN-MAR-21-00020 55:00. Brown expressed concerns about the adequacy of parking spaces for the proposed development, specifically questioning whether the planned number of parking spaces would be sufficient to accommodate the expected number of vehicles that would be generated by the project.

The public comment period provided an opportunity for community input on matters before the body, with parking and traffic impacts being the primary focus of citizen concerns during this meeting.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that generated substantial debate among participants.

PLN-MAR-21-00020: COWGILL, INC.

This agenda item sparked heated discussion among meeting participants, centering on two primary concerns: the proposed building orientation and the project's compliance with the comprehensive plan. The debate focused extensively on whether the proposed design adequately aligned with established city guidelines and planning standards.

Participants engaged in significant back-and-forth regarding the architectural and site planning elements of the Cowgill, Inc. proposal. The discussion revealed disagreements about how the building should be positioned on the site and whether the overall design met the requirements set forth in the city's comprehensive plan.

The nature of the debate suggests that stakeholders held differing interpretations of the planning guidelines and their application to this specific project. The heated discussion indicates that the proposed building orientation was a particular point of contention, with participants questioning whether the design approach was appropriate for the site and consistent with broader planning objectives.

While the extracted data confirms this was a contentious agenda item that generated substantial debate, the specific outcome of the discussion and any final decisions made regarding the Cowgill, Inc. proposal are not detailed in the available information. The item's designation as generating "heated discussion" suggests it was one of the more challenging issues addressed during the meeting, requiring extended deliberation among participants.

PLN-FRP-21-00056: DON JACOBS PROPERTY, BLK A, LOTS 6 & 7

10:00

The commission reviewed the final record plat for Don Jacobs Property, Block A, Lots 6 & 7. The discussion centered on two primary issues: the creation of an access easement and a waiver request regarding sanitary sewer requirements.

Tom Martin and Gary Roland served as key speakers during the presentation and deliberation of this agenda item. The commissioners examined the technical aspects of the proposed plat, with particular attention to how the access easement would be structured and implemented for the property.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the applicant's request for a waiver from standard sanitary sewer requirements. The commission evaluated whether the circumstances of this particular development justified granting an exception to the typical infrastructure standards.

The commissioners deliberated on the merits of both the access easement creation and the sewer waiver request, considering how these elements would impact the overall development and surrounding properties. After reviewing the technical details and hearing from the speakers, the commission reached a decision on the application.

The final record plat for Don Jacobs Property, Block A, Lots 6 & 7 was approved by the commission, including both the access easement provisions and the requested waiver for sanitary sewer requirements.

PLN-MJDP-21-00039: LFUCG, MILLCREEK SUBDIVISION, UNIT 3 & JONESTOWN

20:00

The Planning Commission reviewed a development plan for Millcreek Subdivision, Unit 3 & Jonestown, which proposes 96 multi-family dwelling units. The application was submitted by LFUCG (Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government).

Key speakers during the discussion included Tom Martin and Rory Kahly, who presented details about the proposed development and addressed commission concerns.

The primary areas of discussion centered on two critical aspects of the development:

• Floodplain management requirements - The commission examined conditions related to proper floodplain compliance and management for the proposed multi-family units

• Greenway trail timing - Commissioners discussed the scheduling and implementation timeline for greenway trail connections associated with the development

The development plan underwent thorough review, with commissioners evaluating how the 96 proposed multi-family dwelling units would integrate with existing infrastructure and environmental considerations. The floodplain management conditions were particularly scrutinized to ensure the development would meet all regulatory requirements and protect against potential flooding issues.

Trail connectivity emerged as another significant consideration, with discussions focusing on when the greenway trail components would be completed in relation to the overall development timeline.

After reviewing the proposal and addressing the various conditions and concerns raised during the discussion, the Planning Commission approved the development plan for PLN-MJDP-21-00039. The approval allows LFUCG to proceed with the Millcreek Subdivision, Unit 3 & Jonestown project, subject to the conditions discussed regarding floodplain management and greenway trail implementation.

PLN-MJDP-20-00073: LIBERTY ROAD SERVICE CENTER

30:00

The commission reviewed an extension request for the Liberty Road Service Center development plan approval. The discussion centered on ongoing complications with the detention basin located on the property that have prevented the project from moving forward within the original approval timeframe.

Key speakers during the discussion included Tom Martin and Bruce Simpson, who addressed the technical challenges surrounding the detention basin and the need for additional time to resolve these issues. The speakers explained that the detention basin problems were beyond the developer's immediate control and required extended coordination with relevant agencies and engineering solutions.

The commission considered the circumstances that led to the delay, focusing on whether the issues with the detention basin constituted valid grounds for extending the development plan approval. The discussion examined the technical aspects of the detention basin requirements and the steps being taken to address the outstanding concerns.

After reviewing the details of the case and the justification for the extension request, the commission voted to approve the extension of the development plan approval for PLN-MJDP-20-00073: Liberty Road Service Center. This approval provides the developer with additional time to resolve the detention basin issues and proceed with the project implementation.

The approval allows the development plan to remain valid while the technical challenges are addressed, ensuring that the project can move forward once the detention basin concerns are properly resolved through the appropriate engineering and regulatory processes.

PLN-MJDP-22-00001: JERRICO, INC., LOT 1-B

40:00

The commission reviewed an amendment for Jerrico, Inc.'s Lot 1-B to expand parking facilities. The proposal required evaluation for compliance with the Richmond Road Landscape Ordinance.

Key Speakers: • Tom Martin • Ben Hammock

Discussion Points: The amendment focused on expanding parking capacity on Lot 1-B, with particular attention to landscaping requirements under the Richmond Road Landscape Ordinance. Commission members examined whether the proposed parking expansion would meet the established landscaping standards for the Richmond Road corridor.

Outcome: The commission approved the amendment for PLN-MJDP-22-00001, allowing Jerrico, Inc. to proceed with the parking expansion on Lot 1-B.

PLN-MAR-21-00020: COWGILL, INC.

50:00

The commission reviewed a zoning map amendment application submitted by Cowgill, Inc. The discussion centered on two primary concerns: building orientation requirements and compliance with the comprehensive plan.

Key Discussion Points:

• Building orientation emerged as a significant issue, with commissioners examining how the proposed development would align with existing neighborhood patterns
• Compliance with the comprehensive plan was questioned, requiring further review to ensure the amendment meets established planning guidelines
• Technical aspects of the zoning change were debated among commission members

Speakers: Hal Bailey and Kevin Warner were the primary participants in the discussion, presenting different perspectives on the application's merits and potential concerns.

Outcome: The commission decided to table the item, indicating that additional information or analysis is needed before making a final determination on the zoning map amendment. This delay suggests the commissioners require more time to address the building orientation issues and comprehensive plan compliance questions that were raised during the discussion.

The tabling of this item means Cowgill, Inc. will need to wait for a future meeting to receive a decision on their zoning map amendment request, pending resolution of the identified concerns.