Urban County Council Zone Change

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government held a meeting on April 12, 2022, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice Mayor Kay presiding. The meeting focused on a single agenda item regarding a zone change for property located at 4085 Harrodsburg Road, which was ultimately approved by the council. During the session, the council took one formal vote and heard from two members of the public who provided comments on the matter under consideration. The meeting addressed zoning matters affecting the Harrodsburg Road corridor, with the successful approval of the requested zone change representing the primary accomplishment of the session.

Attendance

The following members were present at the April 12, 2022 meeting:

Present: • Vice Mayor Kay • Bledsoe • F. Brown • Ellinger • Lamb • LeGris • McCurn • Moloney • Plomin • Sheehan • Worley • Baxter

Absent: • J. Brown • Kloiber • Reynolds

Late: • None

A total of 12 members were present for the meeting, with 3 members absent. No members arrived late to the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted one roll call vote during the April 12, 2022 meeting.

Ordinance 0207-22 7:26 The council voted on an ordinance changing the zoning for property located at 4085 Harrodsburg Road. The ordinance would rezone the property from Agricultural Urban (A-U) zone to two different zones: Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) zone and Highway Service Business (B-3) zone.

Council member Baxter made the motion, which was seconded by Sheehan. The ordinance passed by a vote of 11-0-0.

Voting in favor (11): Bledsoe, F. Brown, Ellinger, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Sheehan, Worley, and Baxter.

Voting against: None

Abstentions: None

The ordinance includes several conditions: • The R-3 portion is limited to no more than 7 single family homes and no more than 14 townhome units • Vehicular connectivity must be established between the B-3 portion and the Palomar Hills Neighborhood, with specific layout to be determined by the Planning Commission on a development plan • Screening and buffering provisions must follow those described on the preliminary development plan • Existing trees bordering the property must be preserved except for deceased or dying trees and those that adjoining property owners agree to remove • Several specific uses are prohibited

Public Comment

The meeting included public comment from two speakers who addressed the proposed zone change.

Sam Dunn spoke in support of the zone change with conditions 2:00. Representing the Palomar Hills neighborhood, Dunn emphasized the collaborative process that had taken place between the developers and the neighborhood community. He expressed the neighborhood's support for moving forward with the proposal, contingent on certain conditions being met.

Joy Murphy also voiced support for the development 2:30. Speaking as both a local resident and a realtor, Murphy highlighted two key aspects of the proposal that she found beneficial: the inclusion of green space within the development and the addition of housing units. She noted that the current housing market demonstrates a clear need for more homes in the area, making this development a valuable addition to the community.

Both speakers presented supportive positions on the zone change proposal, with no opposition voiced during the public comment period. The comments reflected themes of community collaboration, environmental considerations through green space inclusion, and addressing local housing needs.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that generated community opposition and required extensive deliberation.

Zone Change for 4085 Harrodsburg Road

The primary point of contention involved a proposed zone change for the property located at 4085 Harrodsburg Road. The item faced substantial community opposition and initially encountered resistance from city planning officials.

The Planning Commission had previously disapproved the zone change request, citing specific concerns about connectivity issues and density levels associated with the proposed development. These technical concerns reflected broader community worries about how the development would integrate with existing neighborhood infrastructure and whether the proposed density was appropriate for the area.

However, the application underwent a significant transformation through community engagement efforts. Following discussions between developers, city officials, and community members, compromises were reached that addressed the initial concerns raised by both the Planning Commission and local residents.

The resolution process involved modifications to the original proposal that satisfied the connectivity and density concerns that had led to the initial disapproval. Through this collaborative approach, the developers were able to present a revised plan that balanced development goals with community interests.

Ultimately, the City Council approved the zone change after the compromise measures were incorporated. This outcome demonstrated the effectiveness of the community engagement process in resolving initial opposition and finding solutions that worked for multiple stakeholders.

The successful resolution of this contested item highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue between developers, planning officials, and community members in addressing zoning concerns and reaching mutually acceptable outcomes for development projects.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available in the provided data for this contested item.*

Zone Change for 4085 Harrodsburg Rd.

7:26

The Council considered Ordinance 0207-22, which proposed rezoning property at 4085 Harrodsburg Rd. from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to a combination of Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) and Highway Service Business (B-3) zoning.

Key speakers during the discussion included Traci Wade, Bruce Simpson, and Sam Dunn, who presented details about the proposed development and zoning change.

The rezoning proposal included specific conditions designed to manage the development's impact on the surrounding area. These conditions included limitations on the number of residential homes that could be built on the property, as well as requirements for connectivity between different areas of the development and appropriate buffering to protect adjacent properties.

The mixed-use nature of the proposal, combining both residential and commercial zoning designations, reflects the property's location along Harrodsburg Road, which serves as a major transportation corridor. The R-3 zoning would allow for planned neighborhood residential development, while the B-3 highway service business zoning would accommodate commercial uses appropriate for the roadway frontage.

After consideration of the proposal and the accompanying conditions, the Council approved Ordinance 0207-22, allowing the zone change to proceed as requested. The approval enables the property owner to move forward with development plans that incorporate both residential and commercial elements while adhering to the specified limitations and requirements for connectivity and buffering.