Planning Commission Subdivision Items Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on April 14, 2022, at 1:31 PM in the Council Chambers of the Urban County Government Building at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Larry Forester presiding as the presiding officer. The commission addressed eight agenda items during the session, all of which received approval, demonstrating a productive meeting focused on various development and zoning matters throughout Fayette County.

The meeting involved significant deliberative activity, with commissioners taking 12 motions and votes throughout the proceedings. The agenda covered a diverse range of projects, including amendments to existing developments such as Coldstream Farm Lot 1 and Belmont Farm Unit 7 (Coventry), as well as new proposals for Kingston Hall units, the Bluegrass Stockyards LLC Lisle Avenue Operations Center, and the Ruttenburg & Cohen Property for Lakeview-Woodspoint Unit 2. Additional items included Hamburg East Tract 4 Lot 2 "Belhurst" and matters related to Bluegrass Airport.

Public participation was limited, with only one public comment recorded during the session. The commission's unanimous approval of all eight agenda items suggests either strong consensus on the proposals or minimal controversy surrounding the development projects under consideration. The meeting's efficiency in processing multiple development-related matters reflects the commission's role in facilitating orderly growth and development within the Urban County area while maintaining appropriate oversight of land use and zoning decisions.

Attendance

The following members were present at the April 14, 2022 meeting:

• Headley Bell
• Zach Davis
• Larry Forester
• Janice Meyer
• Robin Michler
• Bruce Nicol
• Frank Penn
• Graham Pohl
• Judy Worth

Absent: • Anthony de Movellan

Late: • Ivy Barksdale

Nine members were present at the start of the meeting, with one member arriving late and one member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The commission took action on 12 items during the April 14, 2022 meeting, with all votes passing unanimously.

Administrative Items - Minutes Approval: Judy Worth motioned to approve the March 10, 2022 meeting minutes, seconded by Janice Meyer. Passed unanimously 9-0. - Consent Agenda: Frank Penn motioned to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Headley Bell. Passed unanimously 9-0.

Postponements - PLN-MJDP-22-00016 (Sebastian Property, Unit 3): Graham Pohl motioned to postpone, seconded by Frank Penn. Passed unanimously 9-0, postponed to May 12, 2022. - PLN-MJDP-22-00017 (Man O' War Development, Phase 2, Unit 2-A): Janice Meyer motioned to postpone, seconded by Judy Worth. Passed unanimously 9-0, postponed to May 12, 2022.

Development Approvals - PLN-FRP-22-00004 (Coldstream Farm, Lot 1): Frank Penn motioned for approval with waiver, seconded by Judy Worth. Passed 8-0 with 1 abstention. - PLN-MJSUB-21-00001 (Belmont Farm, Unit 7): Robin Michler motioned for approval with waiver, seconded by Ivy Barksdale. Passed unanimously 10-0 with ten conditions. - PLN-MJDP-21-00073 (Kingston Hall, Units 1 & 2): Frank Penn motioned for approval, seconded by Ivy Barksdale. Passed unanimously 10-0 with eighteen conditions and EAMP Compliance Report acceptance. - PLN-MJDP-22-00003 (Bluegrass Stockyards): Graham Pohl motioned for approval, seconded by Judy Worth. Passed unanimously 10-0 with 17 conditions plus an additional condition regarding McConnell House preservation. - PLN-MJDP-22-00009 (Ruttenburg & Cohen Property): Judy Worth motioned for approval, seconded by Janice Meyer. Passed unanimously 10-0 with 11 revised staff recommendations. - PLN-MJDP-22-00014 (Hamburg East, Tract 4, Lot 2): Janice Meyer motioned for approval, seconded by Headley Bell. Passed unanimously 10-0 with 14 conditions and EAMP compliance report approval. - PLN-MJDP-22-00015 (Coldstream Farm, Lot 1): Graham Pohl motioned for approval, seconded by Ivy Barksdale. Passed unanimously 10-0 with 14 conditions, modifying conditions 13 and 14 from "discuss" to "resolve."

Public Facility Review - PFR 2022-3 (Bluegrass Airport): Frank Penn motioned to find the review in compliance with the comprehensive plan, seconded by Janice Meyer. Passed unanimously 10-0.

Public Comment

One member of the public addressed the meeting during the public comment period.

Jackson Osbourne, representing the Bluegrass Trust for Historic Preservation, spoke in support of preserving the McConnell House. Osbourne expressed the organization's backing for preservation efforts and offered the Trust's assistance in maintaining the historic property.

*Note: Transcript timestamps were not available for this public comment period.*

Contested Items

The April 14, 2022 meeting featured one primary contested item that generated community opposition and discussion.

Preservation of McConnell House

The preservation of the McConnell House emerged as a significant point of contention during the meeting. The disagreement centered on how to protect this historic structure within the context of ongoing development plans in the area.

Community members voiced strong support for preserving the McConnell House, demonstrating organized opposition to any development plans that might threaten the building's future. The nature of the opposition suggests residents were concerned that proposed development activities could potentially impact or endanger this historic property.

The outcome of this contested item resulted in a compromise solution. Meeting participants agreed that a protective note would be added to the relevant development plan specifically addressing the preservation of the McConnell House. This addition to the development documentation appears to have satisfied community concerns by formally acknowledging the building's importance and ensuring its protection would be considered in future planning decisions.

The resolution demonstrates how community advocacy can successfully influence municipal planning processes, with citizen input leading to formal protections being incorporated into official development documents.

COLDSTREAM FARM, LOT 1 (AMD)

The commission reviewed application PLN-FRP-22-00004 for Coldstream Farm, Lot 1, which involved a subdivision proposal to divide one existing lot into two separate lots. The project also included the creation of a shared access easement to serve both properties.

Rory Kahly served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item. The applicant requested a waiver that would allow infrastructure improvements to be deferred until the time of construction, rather than requiring them to be completed as part of the initial subdivision approval process.

The commission discussed the technical aspects of the lot division and the practical implications of the shared access arrangement. The proposed easement would provide necessary access rights for both resulting parcels from the subdivision.

After reviewing the application materials and considering the waiver request for deferred infrastructure improvements, the commission approved the Coldstream Farm subdivision proposal. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with dividing the single lot into two lots and establishing the shared access easement as proposed.

The decision enables the development to move forward with the understanding that required infrastructure work will be completed at the construction phase rather than immediately upon subdivision approval.

BELMONT FARM, UNIT 7 (COVENTRY) (AMD)

The commission reviewed application PLN-MJSUB-21-00001 for the Belmont Farm, Unit 7 subdivision plan in Coventry. The discussion centered on a requested waiver regarding driveway spacing requirements.

Nick Nicholson served as a key speaker during the presentation and discussion of this subdivision proposal. The primary issue under consideration was the spacing between driveways, which did not meet standard requirements and therefore required a waiver from the commission.

Safety concerns were raised regarding the proposed driveway configuration. The spacing between access points was identified as potentially problematic for traffic flow and safety considerations within the subdivision.

To address these concerns, the applicant agreed to modify the proposal by combining driveways. This solution would reduce the number of individual access points and improve the spacing between remaining driveways, thereby addressing the safety issues that had been identified by the commission.

The commission ultimately approved the subdivision plan following the applicant's agreement to combine the driveways. This resolution satisfied the safety concerns while allowing the project to move forward without requiring the originally requested waiver for driveway spacing.

The approval represents a collaborative approach between the commission and the applicant to find a solution that meets both development needs and safety standards for the Belmont Farm subdivision in Coventry.

KINGSTON HALL, UNIT 1, LOT 10 & KINGSTON HALL, UNIT 2, LOTS 14-18

The commission reviewed application PLN-MJDP-21-00073 for the Kingston Hall development project involving Unit 1, Lot 10 and Unit 2, Lots 14-18. The proposal centered on the development of a building and associated parking facilities on the designated site.

Rory Kahly served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item. The commission examined the development plans and addressed various aspects of the proposed construction project.

A significant concern raised during the deliberations involved the timing of construction for Providence Place Parkway. Commission members discussed how the timing of this infrastructure development would impact or relate to the Kingston Hall project. The coordination between these two construction projects appeared to be an important consideration in the review process.

The commission evaluated the building design, parking arrangements, and other site development elements as part of their comprehensive review. The discussion included consideration of how the project would integrate with surrounding infrastructure and development plans.

Following their review and discussion of the application materials and concerns raised, the commission voted to approve the Kingston Hall development project. The approval allows the applicant to proceed with the construction of the building and associated parking on Unit 1, Lot 10 and Unit 2, Lots 14-18, subject to any conditions that may have been established during the review process.

The approval of PLN-MJDP-21-00073 represents the commission's determination that the proposed development meets the necessary requirements and standards for the site, despite the timing concerns related to Providence Place Parkway construction that were discussed during the meeting.

BLUEGRASS STOCKYARDS, LLC (LISLE AVENUE OPERATIONS CENTER)

The commission reviewed application PLN-MJDP-22-00003 for Bluegrass Stockyards, LLC's proposed Lisle Avenue Operations Center. The discussion focused on the proposed building and parking layout for the development project.

Key speakers during the discussion included Chad Graber and Eli Grubs, who presented details about the project's design and layout plans.

A significant portion of the discussion centered on the preservation of the McConnell House, which appears to be a historic structure within or adjacent to the proposed development area. The commission emphasized the importance of protecting this building as part of the development process.

As a result of the discussion regarding the McConnell House, the commission determined that a specific note regarding its preservation should be added to the development plan. This addition would ensure that the historic structure's protection is formally documented and required as part of the project approval.

Following the presentation and discussion of the building layout, parking arrangements, and historic preservation requirements, the commission approved the application. The approval includes the condition that the plan be updated to include the preservation note for the McConnell House.

The project represents Bluegrass Stockyards, LLC's expansion or development of operations facilities on Lisle Avenue, with the commission ensuring that both the company's operational needs and historic preservation concerns are appropriately addressed in the final approved plan.

RUTTENBURG & COHEN PROPERTY (LAKEVIEW-WOODSPOINT, UNIT 2)

The commission reviewed application PLN-MJDP-22-00009 for the Ruttenburg & Cohen Property in the Lakeview-Woodspoint, Unit 2 development. The proposal involved increasing the buildable area on certain lots and reflecting a change of use designation.

Tony Barrett served as a key speaker during the discussion, presenting details about the proposed modifications to the property development plan.

The commission focused significant attention on parking requirements associated with the proposed changes. The discussion centered on how the increased buildable area and change of use would impact parking needs for the development and whether the current parking provisions would be adequate to serve the modified project.

The commission examined the relationship between the expanded buildable area and the practical implications for future development on the affected lots. Members discussed how the change of use designation would alter the character and intensity of development within Unit 2 of the Lakeview-Woodspoint project.

Following their review and discussion of the parking requirements and other aspects of the proposal, the commission approved the application. The approval allows for the increased buildable area on the specified lots and formally recognizes the change of use as requested by the applicants.

The decision enables the Ruttenburg & Cohen Property development to proceed with the modified parameters, providing additional flexibility for buildable space while addressing the commission's concerns about adequate parking provision for the revised development plan.

HAMBURG EAST, TRACT 4, LOT 2 "BELHURST"

The commission reviewed application PLN-MJDP-22-00014 for the Hamburg East, Tract 4, Lot 2 "Belhurst" development project. The proposal involves the construction of 79 townhouses on the designated property.

Tom Martin served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item. The commission examined the development plans and assessed their alignment with existing planning requirements.

A significant focus of the review was confirming the plan's compliance with the Expansion Area Master Plan. The commission verified that the proposed 79-townhouse development met the standards and guidelines established in the master plan for this area.

The development project was approved by the commission following their review and discussion of the proposal's merits and compliance with applicable planning documents.

COLDSTREAM FARM, LOT 1 (AMD)

The commission reviewed application PLN-MJDP-22-00015 for Coldstream Farm, Lot 1 (AMD). Ashley served as the key speaker presenting information about this development proposal.

The primary focus of the discussion centered on the building and parking layout planned for the eastern portion of the property. Commissioners examined the proposed configuration and its impact on the overall site design.

A significant portion of the discussion addressed trail easement issues associated with the development. The commission worked through various concerns related to these easements and their implications for the project.

Following their review and discussion of the building layout, parking arrangements, and trail easement matters, the commission approved the application for Coldstream Farm, Lot 1 (AMD).

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

BLUEGRASS AIRPORT

The commission reviewed Public Facility Review PFR 2022-3 concerning proposed developments at Bluegrass Airport. The review covered plans for the construction of new hangars, a fuel farm, and terminal additions at the facility.

Stephanie Cunningham served as the key speaker presenting information about the airport development proposal to the commission. The review examined whether the proposed construction projects aligned with the jurisdiction's comprehensive plan requirements.

Following the presentation and discussion, the commission determined that the Bluegrass Airport development proposal was in compliance with the comprehensive plan. The public facility review for PFR 2022-3 was approved, allowing the airport to proceed with the planned construction of the new hangars, fuel farm infrastructure, and terminal expansion projects.

The approval enables Bluegrass Airport to move forward with these facility improvements, which will expand the airport's capacity for aircraft storage, fuel services, and passenger terminal operations.