Planning Commission Zoning Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on September 22, 2022, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the LFUCG Government Center at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Larry Forester presiding. The commission addressed two agenda items during the session, including postponements and withdrawals of certain matters and a zoning amendment proposal. The commission took two votes during the meeting and heard one public comment. The primary accomplishment was the approval of an amendment to Article 23A-9 that would permit hotels and motels in the Community Center (CC) zone, representing a significant change to the city's zoning regulations for that district.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on September 22, 2022:

• Larry Forester
• Zach Davis
• Larry Forrester
• Bruce Nicol
• Robin Michler
• Mr. Penn
• Mr. Pohl
• Anthony de Movellen
• Judy Worth

Absent: • Ivy Barksdale

No members arrived late to the meeting.

*Note: The attendance records show two similar names listed as present - "Larry Forester" and "Larry Forrester" - which may represent a clerical variation in the meeting minutes.*

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included two formal votes on zoning text amendments.

PLN-ZOTA-22-00008 - Stadium Amendment Postponement 3:00

Zach Davis motioned to postpone the amendment that would allow stadiums in the Economic Development (ED) zone, with Mr. Pohl providing the second. The motion to postpone passed unanimously with 11 ayes and 0 nays. All members present voted in favor of postponement: Larry Forester, Zach Davis, Larry Forrester, Bruce Nicol, Robin Michler, Mr. Penn, Mr. Pohl, Anthony de Movellen, and Judy Worth.

PLN-ZOTA-22-00002 - Hotels/Motels in Community Center Zone 15:00

Anthony de Movellen motioned to approve the amendment permitting hotels and motels in the Community Center (CC) zone, seconded by Bruce Nicol. The amendment passed unanimously with 11 ayes and 0 nays. The same nine members voted in favor: Larry Forester, Zach Davis, Larry Forrester, Bruce Nicol, Robin Michler, Mr. Penn, Mr. Pohl, Anthony de Movellen, and Judy Worth. The approval included the condition that it was "for reasons provided by Staff."

Both votes demonstrated unanimous support from the 11 members present, with no opposition or abstentions recorded for either item.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one speaker addressed the board regarding stadium development in the Economic Development zone.

Brittany Roethemeier spoke at 4:00 to address the postponement of stadiums in the Economic Development zone. Roethemeier thanked everyone who attended the meeting to voice their opposition to the proposed stadium development in the ED zone. Her comments focused on acknowledging community participation in opposing the stadium project.

The public comment period was brief, with only one speaker participating in this portion of the meeting.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that generated community opposition and ultimately led to a postponement of the proposed measure.

Amendment to Allow Stadiums in Economic Development Zone

An amendment was proposed to modify zoning regulations to permit stadiums within the Economic Development zone. The proposal encountered substantial resistance from community members, though specific details about the nature of their concerns were not detailed in the available materials.

The community opposition proved significant enough to influence the proceedings. Rather than proceeding with a potentially divisive vote, the item was indefinitely postponed. This postponement was attributed to the applicant's decision to reconsider their approach and explore alternative options in response to the community feedback.

The indefinite postponement suggests that the opposition raised substantive concerns that warranted further consideration by the applicant before moving forward with the zoning amendment. This outcome demonstrates the impact of public input on municipal decision-making processes, particularly regarding land use and zoning matters that can significantly affect local communities.

The resolution of this contested item through postponement rather than a formal vote indicates an attempt to find a more collaborative path forward that might better address community concerns while still potentially meeting the applicant's objectives through alternative approaches.

Postponements and Withdrawals

3:00

The meeting addressed several requests for postponements and withdrawals of agenda items. Key speakers during this discussion included Dick Murphy, Zach Davis, and Mr. Pohl.

The primary focus of the postponements and withdrawals discussion centered on an amendment related to allowing stadiums in the Economic Development zone. This particular item was subject to a request for indefinite postponement, indicating that the proposal would be shelved without a specific timeline for future consideration.

The speakers deliberated on the various postponement requests, weighing the merits of delaying certain agenda items versus proceeding with scheduled discussions. The decision-making process involved consideration of factors that would warrant postponing items rather than addressing them during the current meeting session.

Following the discussion among Murphy, Davis, and Pohl, the outcome resulted in the postponement of the relevant agenda items. The indefinite postponement of the stadium amendment in the Economic Development zone was among the items that would not proceed to further consideration during this meeting.

This agenda item demonstrates the procedural aspects of municipal governance, where items can be deferred or withdrawn based on various circumstances, timing considerations, or the need for additional preparation before formal review and potential action by the governing body.

Amendment to Article 23A-9 to permit hotels/motels in the Community Center (CC)

15:00

The commission considered agenda item V.C.1, an ordinance amendment to Article 23A-9 that would permit hotels and motels as uses in the Community Center (CC) zoning district. The proposed change would move hotels and motels from prohibited uses to principal primary uses within this zone.

Key speakers during the discussion included Hal Baillie, Mr. Pohl, Mr. Penn, and Darby Turner. The commissioners reviewed the zoning amendment and its implications for development within the Community Center district.

The amendment represents a significant policy shift for the Community Center zone, as it would allow hospitality uses that were previously not permitted in this district. By reclassifying hotels and motels as principal primary uses rather than prohibited uses, the change would enable these types of commercial accommodations to be developed within the CC zone boundaries.

Following discussion among the commissioners and input from the identified speakers, the commission approved the amendment to Article 23A-9. This approval will allow hotels and motels to be established in the Community Center zone, expanding the range of permitted commercial uses in this zoning district.

The ordinance amendment will need to follow the standard municipal approval process before taking effect and being incorporated into the official zoning code.