Board of Adjustment - Special Meeting Part 1

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Adjustment convened on June 28, 2022, at 1:34 PM in the Council Chambers at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Thomas Glover presiding as the meeting officer. The board addressed one primary agenda item during the session: a conditional use appeal submitted by Anderson Communities, Inc., which was ultimately approved. The meeting included one formal vote and heard from five members of the public who provided comments on the matter under consideration. The board successfully completed its review of the conditional use appeal, reaching a decision that allows the proposed development to move forward under the requested conditions.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on June 28, 2022:

• Raquel Carter
• Harry Clarke
• Thomas Glover
• Branden Gross
• Chad Needham
• Chad Walker
• Joan Whitman

No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting. All seven members were in attendance.

Votes and Decisions

The board took action on one agenda item during the meeting.

PLN-BOA-22-00026 - The board voted to approve a conditional use permit for outdoor recreational facilities (soccer fields) requested by Anderson Communities, Inc. The motion passed, though specific vote counts and individual member votes were not recorded in the available materials.

The approval came with 19 conditions attached, including: • No lighting on the soccer fields • Limited hours of operation • Required coordination with Fasig Tipton

The conditional use permit will allow Anderson Communities, Inc. to proceed with their plans for the outdoor recreational soccer facilities, subject to compliance with all stipulated conditions.

*Note: Transcript timestamps and detailed voting information were not available in the source materials for this meeting.*

Public Comment

Five community members spoke during the public comment period, with opinions divided on a proposed soccer fields project.

Kenny Nusbacher, a soccer coach, spoke in support of the soccer fields project. He highlighted the increasing popularity of soccer and emphasized the need for such facilities in the community.

Sarah MacHarg expressed opposition to the project, raising concerns about its potential impact on the local equine industry. She also voiced worries about the possibility of future developments that could follow if the project moves forward.

Melva Holt, representing the Griffin Gate Community Association, opposed the project primarily due to traffic concerns. She specifically cited the potential negative impacts on Newtown Pike as a key issue for her organization.

Reva Russell English spoke against the project from an environmental perspective, focusing her concerns on greenhouse gas emissions that could result from the development.

Will Glasscock, representing KEEP (Kentucky Equine Education Project), also opposed the project. He argued that the development would have negative consequences for the horse industry, which is significant to the local economy and culture.

The public comments revealed a clear divide between soccer supporters who see the need for athletic facilities and opponents who are concerned about traffic, environmental impacts, and effects on the established equine industry. The opposition speakers represented organized community groups, suggesting coordinated concern about the project's broader implications for the area.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for these public comments.*

Contested Items

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

Conditional Use Permit for Soccer Fields

A proposal for a conditional use permit to develop soccer fields faced considerable pushback from community members during the meeting. The opposition centered on three primary concerns:

• Traffic Impact: Residents expressed worry about increased vehicle traffic that would result from the soccer field development, potentially affecting local road conditions and safety in the surrounding area.

• Environmental Concerns: Community members raised questions about the environmental impact of the proposed development, citing potential effects on local ecosystems and natural resources.

• Agricultural Land Preservation: Opposition voices emphasized concerns about converting agricultural land for recreational use, arguing for the importance of maintaining the area's farming character and productive agricultural capacity.

The nature of the opposition was characterized as "significant," indicating substantial community engagement and concern regarding the proposal. Multiple community members participated in voicing their objections to the conditional use permit application.

*Note: The provided data does not include specific details about the outcome of this contested item, the names of speakers, or exact transcript timestamps for when these discussions occurred during the meeting.*

Conditional Use Appeal - Anderson Communities, Inc.

The board reviewed agenda item II.B.1, a conditional use permit application from Anderson Communities, Inc. to develop soccer fields in an Agricultural Rural zone.

Key speakers during the discussion included Thomas Glover, Daniel Crum, and Richard Murphy, who presented various aspects of the proposal and addressed concerns raised during the review process.

Staff presented their analysis of the conditional use permit request, which involved the development of recreational soccer facilities in an area zoned for agricultural and rural uses. The staff recommendation supported approval of the permit, contingent upon specific conditions designed to minimize potential impacts on the surrounding agricultural and rural character of the zone.

The discussion focused on how the proposed soccer field development would integrate with the existing Agricultural Rural zoning designation and what measures would be necessary to ensure compatibility with neighboring land uses. The conditions recommended by staff were intended to address potential concerns about traffic, noise, lighting, and other impacts that recreational facilities might have on the rural setting.

Following the presentation and discussion of the conditional use permit application, the board voted to approve the request from Anderson Communities, Inc. The approval included the staff-recommended conditions aimed at mitigating potential negative impacts on the Agricultural Rural zone while allowing the recreational development to proceed.

The conditional use permit approval enables Anderson Communities, Inc. to move forward with their soccer field development project, subject to compliance with the specified conditions that were established to protect the character and integrity of the Agricultural Rural zoning district.