Urban County Council Zone Change Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government held a meeting on June 21, 2022, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Moloney presiding as the meeting officer. The session focused on a single agenda item involving a zone change request from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3), which was ultimately approved by the council. During the meeting, council members took one official vote and heard from three members of the public who provided comments on the matter under consideration. The meeting represented a focused session dedicated to addressing this specific zoning matter affecting the community's land use planning.

Attendance

The following members were present at the June 21, 2022 meeting:

• Moloney
• Plomin
• Reynolds
• Sheehan
• Baxter
• Bledsoe
• F. Brown
• J. Brown
• Ellinger
• Kloiber
• Lamb
• LeGris

Absent: • McCurn • Worley • Kay

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 12 members were present and 3 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted one roll call vote during the meeting.

Ordinance 0492-22 7:56 The council voted on an ordinance to rezone 14.773 net acres at 4630 Old Schoolhouse Lane from Agricultural Urban (A-U) zone to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) zone. Council member Baxter made the motion, which was seconded by Plomin.

The ordinance passed unanimously with a vote of 12-0-0. All twelve council members voted in favor: - Moloney - Plomin - Reynolds - Sheehan - Baxter - Bledsoe - F. Brown - J. Brown - Ellinger - Kloiber - Lamb - LeGris

No council members voted against the ordinance or abstained from voting.

The approved rezoning includes a condition requiring an 8-foot wooden fence to be installed along the property line adjacent to existing single family residential lots.

Public Comment

Three residents spoke during the public comment period, all addressing concerns related to a proposed zone change and its potential impacts on the neighborhood.

Mark Amann 1:00 spoke on behalf of the Dogwood Trace Neighborhood Association, expressing opposition to the proposed zone change. Amann focused his remarks on concerns about increased density, lot size requirements, and the potential impact on neighborhood identity. As a representative of the neighborhood association, he outlined the community's collective concerns about how the zoning modification could alter the character of their area.

David Kolpek 1:20 raised traffic-related concerns, specifically addressing the potential removal of a barricade on Agape Drive. Kolpek warned that removing this traffic control measure could result in increased vehicle traffic flowing through the neighborhood, creating safety and quality-of-life issues for residents.

Kim Crocetti 1:30 focused her comments on the South Elkhorn Greenway Trail, emphasizing its importance to the community. Crocetti requested assurance from officials that public access to the trail would be maintained despite any proposed development or zoning changes. Her remarks highlighted the recreational and environmental value of the greenway to area residents.

All three speakers' comments centered around preserving the existing character and infrastructure of their neighborhood while addressing concerns about how the proposed zone change might affect traffic patterns, development density, and public amenities like the greenway trail.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that drew community opposition.

Zone Change for 4630 Old Schoolhouse Lane

The proposed zone change for the property at 4630 Old Schoolhouse Lane generated substantial community pushback during the meeting. The Dogwood Trace Neighborhood Association led the opposition effort, presenting multiple concerns about the potential impacts of the proposed rezoning.

The neighborhood association's primary objections centered on three key issues:

• Increased density concerns - Residents worried that the zone change would allow for more intensive development than currently permitted
• Traffic impacts - Community members expressed concerns about additional vehicle traffic that could result from higher-density development
• Neighborhood character preservation - Opponents argued that the proposed zoning would fundamentally alter the existing character of their residential area

The Dogwood Trace Neighborhood Association served as the primary voice for community opposition, representing residents who felt the zone change would negatively impact their quality of life and property values. The association presented their concerns formally during the public comment portion of the meeting.

*Note: The meeting transcript and outcome details were not available in the provided materials, so the final disposition of this contested zone change request could not be determined from the available information.*

Zone Change from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3)

0:30

The council considered Ordinance 1, a proposal to rezone 14.773 net acres located at 4630 Old Schoolhouse Lane from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3). The development plan calls for the construction of 88 single-family homes on the property.

Key speakers during the discussion included Traci Wade, Nick Nicholson, and Mark Amann, who presented details about the proposed zoning change and development plans. The speakers addressed the transition from the current agricultural designation to residential use, outlining how the planned neighborhood would fit within the existing community framework.

The R-3 zoning classification would allow for the planned residential development while maintaining neighborhood character through specific design standards and density requirements. The proposal represents a significant land use change for the Old Schoolhouse Lane property, converting nearly 15 acres from agricultural use to residential housing.

Following the presentation and discussion of the zoning change proposal, the council voted to approve the ordinance. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with development plans for the 88-unit single-family residential project under the new Planned Neighborhood Residential zoning designation.

The successful zoning change clears a key regulatory hurdle for the housing development, enabling the transformation of the agricultural property into a new residential neighborhood that will add to the community's housing stock.