Urban County Council Zone Change Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council met on January 17, 2023, at 5:00 PM at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Vice Mayor Wu presiding over the session. The meeting addressed one agenda item, a Zone Change Ordinance, which was ultimately withdrawn before any formal action was taken. The Council conducted one motion and vote during the proceedings, though no public comments were heard from citizens during the meeting. Overall, the session was brief with limited legislative activity due to the withdrawal of the primary agenda item under consideration.

Attendance

The following Council members were present at the January 17, 2023 meeting:

• Vice Mayor Wu
• LeGris
• Lynch
• Plomin
• Reynolds
• Sevigny
• Sheehan
• F. Brown
• J. Brown
• Ellinger
• Elliott Baxter

Absent: • Monarrez • Worley • Fogle • Gray

No Council members arrived late to the meeting. Eleven members were present and four were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The Council considered one zoning matter during the January 17, 2023 meeting.

Ordinance 1175-22 - An Ordinance changing the zone from a Light Industrial (I-1) zone to a Commercial Center (B-6p) zone for property located at 1510 Greendale Rd. and 2440 Innovation Dr.

Ms. Elliott Baxter made a motion regarding this ordinance, which was seconded by Ms. Plomin. However, the motion was subsequently withdrawn before a vote was taken. No formal vote count was recorded as the item was withdrawn from consideration.

This zoning change ordinance would have affected two properties on Greendale Road and Innovation Drive, converting them from light industrial use to commercial center designation. The withdrawal means the zoning matter will need to be reintroduced at a future meeting if the Council wishes to proceed with the proposed changes.

Contested Items

The January 17, 2023 Council meeting addressed one contested item that had previously generated significant community opposition.

Zone Change from Light Industrial to Commercial Center

The primary contested matter involved a proposed zone change from Light Industrial to Commercial Center designation. This ordinance had faced substantial community pushback during earlier proceedings, ultimately resulting in its disapproval by a decisive 7-2 vote during a previous public hearing.

The nature of the opposition centered on community concerns regarding the proposed zoning modification. While the specific details of resident objections were not elaborated in the available meeting materials, the overwhelming vote against the measure (7-2) demonstrated clear community sentiment opposing the zone change.

The proposed rezoning would have converted property currently designated for light industrial use to allow for commercial center development, representing a significant shift in the intended use and character of the affected area. Such zoning changes typically involve considerations of traffic impact, infrastructure capacity, compatibility with surrounding land uses, and alignment with comprehensive planning goals.

The strong community opposition that led to the ordinance's previous disapproval suggests residents had concerns about how the zone change might affect their neighborhood or the broader community. The 7-2 vote margin indicates that opposition was not merely vocal but also represented a clear majority position among those participating in the public hearing process.

This contested item highlights the ongoing tension between development interests seeking more flexible commercial zoning and community members who may prefer to maintain existing land use patterns or have concerns about the impacts of increased commercial activity in areas previously designated for industrial use.

Zone Change Ordinance

The Council considered Ordinance 1175-22, which would have changed the zoning designation for properties located at 1510 Greendale Road and 2440 Innovation Drive from Light Industrial (I-1) to Commercial Center (B-6p).

Attorney Jon Woodall appeared before the Council representing the applicant. However, the application was withdrawn by the applicant before any substantive discussion or vote could take place.

The proposed zone change would have converted the industrial zoning to a commercial designation that typically allows for retail, office, and service uses. The specific reasons for the withdrawal were not detailed in the meeting record.

Outcome: The application was withdrawn by the applicant, and no further action was taken on Ordinance 1175-22.