Planning Commission Zoning Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on December 15, 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. The commission addressed three agenda items during the session, with all three development proposals receiving approval. The meeting included eight motions and votes, demonstrating active deliberation on the various matters before the commission. Four members of the public provided comments during the proceedings, contributing community input to the decision-making process. All three major development projects on the agenda—the Crestwood Montessori School Redwood Co-op School Expansion, the Shriners Hospital/Masonic Temple Association of Lexington project, and the Turner Property 4, LLC proposal—were ultimately approved by the commission.

Attendance

The following members were present at the December 15, 2022 meeting:

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

All members were in attendance with no absences or late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included several postponements and approvals, all decided by unanimous vote.

Postponements:

• PLN-MAR-22-15 Dutch Bros, LLC was postponed to January 26 0:30

• PLN-MAR-22-0002 Caller Properties, LLC was postponed to January 26, with Judy Worth providing the second 1:00

• PLN-MJDP-22-62 Hoover & Ford Philpot Evangelistic Association was postponed to January 12 2:00

Approvals:

• PLN-MJDP-22-00058 Crestwood Montessori School Redwood School Expansion was approved unanimously, with Headley Bell providing the second 3:00

• PLN-MJDP-22-63 Shriners Hospital was approved unanimously with 20 conditions, with Judy Worth providing the second 4:00. A separate motion to approve the findings for this same project also passed unanimously, again with Judy Worth providing the second 5:00

• PLN-MAR-22-21 Turner Property 4, LLC was approved unanimously, with De Movellan providing the second 6:00

• PLN-MJDP-22-68 was approved unanimously with 17 conditions, with De Movellan providing the second 7:00

All votes were recorded as unanimous decisions, though specific vote counts and individual member positions were not documented in the available records. The meeting demonstrated consistent agreement among members on both postponement requests and project approvals, with several items requiring compliance with multiple conditions as part of their approval.

Public Comment

Four community members addressed the board during the public comment period, with traffic concerns being the predominant theme.

Kylie 8:00 opened the public comment session by expressing concerns about increased neighborhood traffic resulting from the proposed development. She requested that the board consider implementing traffic management measures to address potential impacts on local residents.

Rick Wells 9:00 followed with questions about accessing the traffic impact study for the development. Wells specifically requested information on how community members could obtain copies of the study and voiced concerns about potential traffic congestion near his residence.

Rock Daniels 10:00 provided a contrasting perspective, expressing support for the development project. Daniels thanked both the developer and city staff for their cooperation and transparency throughout the planning process.

Gabe Hencely 11:00 concluded the public comment period by requesting a comprehensive traffic study. Hencely emphasized the need for analysis that would address both existing traffic issues in the area and anticipated future problems related to the proposed development.

The public comments revealed a community primarily focused on traffic-related impacts, with three of the four speakers raising concerns about vehicular congestion and traffic management. While most comments centered on traffic concerns, the session also included one voice of support for the development, highlighting community cooperation in the planning process.

Contested Items

The primary contested item during the December 15, 2022 meeting centered on the traffic impact of the Turner Property development, which drew significant community opposition.

Turner Property Development Traffic Concerns

Community members raised substantial concerns about the potential traffic impact resulting from the proposed Turner Property development. The opposition focused on fears that the development would generate increased vehicle traffic in the surrounding area, potentially creating congestion and safety issues for existing residents.

The community members who spoke during the meeting specifically requested that comprehensive traffic studies be conducted to properly assess and address the potential traffic-related problems that could arise from the development. These residents emphasized the need for thorough analysis before any approval decisions were made regarding the project.

The nature of the disagreement involved community members advocating for more extensive traffic impact analysis, while the development proposal appeared to move forward without what residents considered adequate traffic assessment. The community opposition centered on ensuring that proper due diligence would be conducted to evaluate how the Turner Property development might affect local traffic patterns, road capacity, and neighborhood safety.

No specific outcome or resolution was indicated in the available information regarding how this contested item was ultimately addressed by the governing body. The community's request for comprehensive traffic studies represents their effort to ensure that potential negative impacts from the development would be properly evaluated and mitigated before any final decisions were made on the Turner Property project.

PLN-MJDP-22-00058: Crestwood Montessori School Redwood Co-op School Expansion

3:00

The meeting addressed the expansion proposal for Crestwood Montessori School Redwood Co-op School under application PLN-MJDP-22-00058. Steve Baker served as the key speaker presenting details about the project.

The discussion centered on the school's expansion plans, with particular attention given to infrastructure requirements and regulatory compliance. Two primary areas of concern emerged during the review process:

• Parking requirements - The expansion necessitated evaluation of adequate parking capacity to accommodate the increased enrollment and staff
• Stormwater management - Infrastructure improvements were required to handle increased runoff from the expanded facility

The application underwent review for compliance with local development standards and zoning requirements. Staff analysis determined that the expansion could proceed with appropriate conditions to address the identified infrastructure needs.

Following discussion of the project details and review of the proposed conditions, the application received approval. The approval included specific conditions related to both parking provision and stormwater management systems to ensure the expansion meets municipal standards and does not negatively impact surrounding properties or infrastructure.

The approval allows Crestwood Montessori School to move forward with their expansion plans while ensuring compliance with local development regulations through the attached conditions of approval.

PLN-MJDP-22-63: Shriners Hospital/Masonic Temple Association of Lexington

4:00

The commission reviewed a development plan for the Shriners Hospital/Masonic Temple Association of Lexington project. Mat Carter served as the key speaker presenting details of the proposal during the discussion.

The agenda item involved consideration of a development plan that required approval with specific conditions. A significant component of the discussion centered on a finding related to townhouse access easement requirements for the project.

The commission examined the various aspects of the development proposal, including how it would integrate with surrounding properties and meet municipal development standards. The townhouse access easement represented a critical element that needed to be addressed as part of the approval process.

Following the presentation and discussion of the project details, conditions, and easement considerations, the commission moved forward with their decision-making process. The development plan was ultimately approved, allowing the Shriners Hospital/Masonic Temple Association of Lexington project to proceed under the established conditions.

The approval represents progress for the healthcare and community facility development, with the commission satisfied that the proposal met the necessary requirements and that appropriate provisions were made for access and integration with the surrounding area.

PLN-MAR-22-21: Turner Property 4, LLC

6:00

The commission discussed agenda item 3, PLN-MAR-22-21 concerning Turner Property 4, LLC. Nathan Billings served as the key speaker for this item, which involved a zone change and development plan for the Turner Property.

The discussion centered on several key aspects of the proposed development, including the zone change request and associated development plan. Traffic impact considerations were a significant component of the review, with the commission examining how the proposed development would affect local transportation patterns and infrastructure.

Neighborhood agreements were also addressed during the discussion, indicating that community input and stakeholder concerns had been incorporated into the planning process. These agreements likely addressed various aspects of the development to ensure compatibility with surrounding properties and community standards.

The commission reviewed the technical aspects of the proposal, evaluating how the zone change would align with existing zoning regulations and comprehensive planning objectives. The development plan components were examined for compliance with applicable standards and requirements.

Following the presentation and discussion of all relevant factors, including the traffic impact analysis and neighborhood agreement provisions, the commission reached a decision on the matter. The item was approved, indicating that the commission found the zone change and development plan to be appropriate and in compliance with applicable regulations and community standards.

The approval of PLN-MAR-22-21 allows Turner Property 4, LLC to proceed with their proposed development under the terms and conditions established through the review process, including any stipulations related to traffic management and neighborhood compatibility measures that were incorporated into the final approval.