Planning Commission Meeting Subdivision Items

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on June 9, 2022, at 1:30 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 meeting officer. The commission addressed four agenda items during the session, all of which were development-related proposals that received approval. The meeting included four recorded motions and votes, covering zoning and development plans for various properties throughout the county. Two public comments were heard during the proceedings, allowing community input on the proposed developments. All four agenda items—ranging from the Clark Property Unit 4 zoning development plan to major development plans for Trinity Flats, Webb Properties Office Park, and the James R. Massengill Property—were successfully approved by the commission.

Attendance

The following members were present at the June 9, 2022 meeting:

• Robin Michler
• Frank Penn
• Larry Forester
• Judy Worth
• Janice Meyer
• Bruce Nicol
• Zach Davis
• Ivy Barksdale

No members were absent from the meeting.

Ivy Barksdale arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The commission took four votes during the meeting, all of which passed unanimously.

Minutes Approval Janice Meyer motioned to approve the minutes of the April 28, 2022 meeting, seconded by Judy Worth. The motion passed unanimously with 7 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor were Robin Michler, Frank Penn, Larry Forester, Judy Worth, Janice Meyer, Bruce Nicol, and Zach Davis.

Consent Agenda Frank Penn motioned to approve the consent agenda excluding Trinity Flats, seconded by Judy Worth 0:00. The motion passed unanimously with 8 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor were Robin Michler, Frank Penn, Larry Forester, Judy Worth, Janice Meyer, Bruce Nicol, Zach Davis, and Ivy Barksdale.

Trinity Flats Development Plan (PLN-MJDP-22-00024) Bruce Nicol motioned to approve the Trinity Flats development plan with conditions, seconded by Ivy Barksdale 1:00. The motion passed unanimously with 7 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor were Robin Michler, Frank Penn, Judy Worth, Janice Meyer, Bruce Nicol, Zach Davis, and Ivy Barksdale. The approval included the condition to document a neighborhood meeting prior to plan certification.

Performance Bonds and Letters of Credit Frank Penn motioned to accept performance bonds and letters of credit, seconded by Zach Davis. The motion passed unanimously with 7 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor were Robin Michler, Frank Penn, Judy Worth, Janice Meyer, Bruce Nicol, Zach Davis, and Ivy Barksdale.

All votes demonstrated full consensus among the participating commissioners, with no opposition or abstentions recorded on any matter.

Public Comment

Two residents spoke during the public comment period, both addressing concerns about the Trinity Flats development project.

Michael Wilson 2:00 expressed concerns about the Trinity Flats development, specifically highlighting what he characterized as a lack of community outreach regarding the project. Wilson raised issues about potential negative impacts the development could have on the surrounding neighborhood.

Billie Mallory 3:00 also spoke about the Trinity Flats development, echoing similar concerns about the project's potential impact on the neighborhood. Mallory specifically voiced frustration about the lack of notification to residents regarding the development plans.

Both speakers focused their comments on the same development project, suggesting coordinated community concern about the Trinity Flats proposal and its planning process.

Appointments

The meeting included appointments to the Nominating Committee, with three individuals being selected to serve in this capacity.

The following appointments were made:

• Janice Meyer - appointed to the Nominating Committee
• Robin Michler - appointed to the Nominating Committee
• Bruce Nicol - appointed to the Nominating Committee

All three appointments involved the same action of being appointed to serve on the Nominating Committee. No additional details about the terms of service, specific roles within the committee, or voting procedures for these appointments were provided in the available meeting data.

Contested Items

The Trinity Flats development proposal emerged as the primary point of contention during the June 9, 2022 meeting, drawing significant community opposition.

Trinity Flats Development

Community members raised substantial concerns regarding the Trinity Flats development project, focusing primarily on two key issues: inadequate community outreach and potential adverse neighborhood impacts. Residents who spoke during the public comment period expressed frustration with what they characterized as insufficient consultation with the community prior to the proposal's advancement.

The opposition centered on concerns about how the development might affect the existing neighborhood character and infrastructure. Community members questioned whether proper notification procedures had been followed and whether their voices had been adequately heard in the planning process.

The nature of the specific negative impacts cited by residents was not detailed in the available meeting materials, though the concerns were significant enough to constitute organized community opposition to the proposal.

The meeting materials do not indicate the final outcome or resolution of the Trinity Flats development dispute, suggesting the matter may have required additional consideration or been tabled for future discussion. No information was provided regarding the developer's response to the community concerns or any proposed modifications to address the opposition.

The contested nature of this item highlights the ongoing tension between development interests and community preservation concerns that frequently arise in municipal planning decisions.

ZDP 2015-52: Clark Property, Unit 4

The board considered a request for a one-year extension of the Clark Property development plan for Unit 4. Tom Martin served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item.

The discussion centered on extending the timeline for ZDP 2015-52, which covers development plans for Unit 4 of the Clark Property. The original development plan required an extension to allow additional time for project completion or implementation.

Tom Martin presented the case for granting the one-year extension, though specific details of his presentation and any concerns raised during the discussion were not captured in the available meeting materials.

Following the presentation and any board discussion, the extension request was approved, allowing the Clark Property Unit 4 development to proceed under the extended timeline.

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

PLN-MJDP-22-00024: Trinity Flats (Race and Midland)

1:00

The Planning Commission reviewed application PLN-MJDP-22-00024 for Trinity Flats, a proposed multi-family residential development located at Race and Midland. The project calls for construction of a multi-family residential building containing 245 units.

Tom Martin and Dick Murphy served as key speakers during the discussion of this agenda item. The presentation covered the development plan details, including the proposed unit count and site layout for the Race and Midland location.

The commission engaged in discussion regarding various aspects of the Trinity Flats proposal. While specific concerns or debate points were not detailed in the available materials, the item received consideration as part of the standard review process for multi-family development projects of this scale.

Following the presentation and discussion period, the Planning Commission voted to approve application PLN-MJDP-22-00024 for the Trinity Flats development. The approval allows the 245-unit multi-family residential project to move forward in the development process at the Race and Midland site.

PLN-MJDP-22-00027: Webb Properties Office Park

The planning commission reviewed an amendment for the Webb Properties Office Park development project. The proposed changes involved adding building square footage to the existing development plan and relocating the access point for the property.

Tom Martin served as the key speaker presenting the amendment details to the commission. The discussion focused on the technical aspects of expanding the building footprint and the rationale behind moving the access point to a different location on the property.

The amendment represented modifications to the previously approved development plan, requiring commission review and approval before implementation could proceed. The changes to building square footage would increase the overall development capacity of the office park, while the access point relocation was designed to improve traffic flow and site circulation.

Following the presentation and discussion of the proposed amendments, the planning commission voted to approve the changes to PLN-MJDP-22-00027. The approval allows Webb Properties to proceed with the expanded building square footage and implement the new access point configuration as outlined in the amended development plan.

The successful approval of this amendment enables the developer to move forward with the enhanced office park development, incorporating the additional square footage and improved site access that were central to the requested modifications.

PLN-MJDP-22-00030: James R. Massengill Property

The planning commission reviewed an amendment for the James R. Massengill Property under case number PLN-MJDP-22-00030. The proposal involved adding a 1,610 square foot building and one gas pump to the existing property.

Tom Martin served as the key speaker presenting details about the proposed development amendment. The discussion focused on the specifications and implications of adding the new building structure and gas pump facility to the property.

The commission evaluated the amendment request, considering factors such as the building size, the addition of fuel service infrastructure, and compliance with applicable zoning and development standards. The 1,610 square foot building represents a significant addition to the property's existing structures.

Following the presentation and discussion, the planning commission approved the amendment for the James R. Massengill Property. The approval allows for the construction of the proposed 1,610 square foot building and installation of one gas pump as outlined in the application.

The successful approval of PLN-MJDP-22-00030 enables the property owner to proceed with the planned development modifications, expanding both the building footprint and commercial fuel services on the site.