Planning Commission Subdivision Items

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on March 9, 2023, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chambers of the Urban County Government Building at 200 East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, with Larry Forester presiding as the meeting officer. The commission addressed two primary agenda items during the session: the Cherokee Park Subdivision Development Plan and the Warrenton Woods Waiver, both of which received approval from the commission. Throughout the meeting, commissioners conducted 11 motions and votes on various matters related to the agenda items and procedural business. The commission also heard from 2 members of the public who provided comments during the designated public comment periods, allowing community input on the development proposals under consideration.

Attendance

The following members were present at the March 9, 2023 meeting:

• Larry Forester
• Anthony de Movellan
• Janice Meyer
• Graham Pohl
• Judy Worth
• Zach Davis
• Ivy Barksdale
• Headley Bell

Three members were absent:

• Nicol
• Michler
• Penn

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included eleven motions with a combination of administrative approvals and development-related postponements.

Meeting Minutes Approval 0:30 Judy Worth motioned to approve the February 9, 2023 minutes, seconded by Graham Pohl. The motion passed by roll call vote with 6 ayes, 0 nays, and 2 abstentions. Voting in favor: Larry Forester, Anthony de Movellan, Graham Pohl, Judy Worth, Zach Davis, and Headley Bell.

1:00 Judy Worth motioned to approve the February 16, 2023 minutes, seconded by Headley Bell. The motion passed by roll call vote with 5 ayes, 0 nays, and 3 abstentions. Voting in favor: Larry Forester, Anthony de Movellan, Judy Worth, Headley Bell, and Zach Davis.

Development Postponements Five development items were unanimously postponed to future meetings:

• 2:00 PLN-MJDP-22-000045 (Distillery District West/U-Haul Lexington amendment) - postponed to April 13, 2023
• 3:00 PLN-MJDP-22-00079 (Coleman Property/Newtown Pike Hampton Inn & Suites amendment) - postponed to April 13, 2023
• 4:00 PLN-MJDP-23-00012 (Melrose Addition, Block F, Lots 10, 11, & 12 amendment) - postponed to March 23, 2023
• 5:00 PLN-FRP-23-00005 (Hagyard Farms, LLC Property subdivision) - postponed to April 13, 2023
• 6:00 PLN-MJDP-18-00004 (Triple Stars Property development plan) - postponed to May 11, 2023

Approvals Three items received unanimous approval with all 8 members voting in favor:

• 7:00 Performance bonds and letters of credit
• 8:00 Consent agenda items
• 9:00 PLN-MJDP-20-00074 (Cherokee Park Subdivision development plan) - approved subject to 15 revised conditions
• 10:00 PLN-MJSUB-22-00013 (waiver for Warrenton Woods, Unit 1-A)

All unanimous votes included Larry Forester, Anthony de Movellan, Janice Meyer, Graham Pohl, Judy Worth, Zach Davis, Ivy Barksdale, and Headley Bell voting in favor.

Public Comment

Two residents spoke during the public comment period regarding the Cherokee Park Subdivision development proposal.

Tom Stevens addressed the board at 11:00, expressing concerns about the proposed Cherokee Park Subdivision development. Stevens focused on issues related to parking and density, arguing that the development is too dense for the area and will create significant parking problems for the community.

Jerry Gillespie followed at 12:00, also speaking in opposition to the Cherokee Park Subdivision proposal. Gillespie raised multiple concerns about the development's potential impact on the surrounding area, including:

• Parking overflow issues that could affect neighboring properties
• Increased traffic congestion in the area
• Stormwater runoff problems that could result from the development

Both speakers expressed dissatisfaction with the current proposal and urged the board to consider the negative impacts the development could have on the existing community infrastructure and quality of life for current residents.

Contested Items

The Cherokee Park Subdivision Development Plan generated significant community opposition during the meeting, prompting extensive discussion before the council reached a decision.

Cherokee Park Subdivision Development Plan

Community members raised multiple concerns about the proposed subdivision development, focusing on three primary issues:

• Parking adequacy - Residents questioned whether the planned parking spaces would be sufficient for the proposed density
• Development density - Opposition centered on concerns that the subdivision would be too densely populated for the area
• Stormwater management - Community members expressed worries about how increased development would affect local drainage and flooding risks

The discussion involved detailed exchanges between community members, city staff, and council members as they worked through the technical and community impact aspects of the proposal. Despite the opposition voiced by residents, the council ultimately moved forward with the development plan.

Outcome: The Cherokee Park Subdivision Development Plan was approved, but the council attached specific conditions to address some of the community concerns raised during the public discussion. The exact nature of these conditions was not detailed in the available meeting materials, but they appear to have been crafted in response to the parking, density, and stormwater management issues highlighted by community members.

The contentious nature of this item demonstrates the ongoing tension between development interests and community preservation concerns that many municipalities face when evaluating new residential projects.

Cherokee Park Subdivision Development Plan

9:00

The commission reviewed the Cherokee Park Subdivision Development Plan under case identifier PLN-MJDP-20-00074. The discussion centered on three primary areas of concern: parking adequacy, residential density, and stormwater management infrastructure.

Key speakers during the deliberation included Tom Martin, Tom Stevens, Jerry Gillespie, and James Perry, who presented various aspects of the development proposal and addressed commission questions.

The development plan underwent scrutiny regarding its parking provisions, with commissioners evaluating whether the proposed parking allocation would meet the needs of future residents. Density considerations were also examined, as the commission assessed whether the planned residential units aligned with zoning requirements and community standards.

Stormwater management emerged as a significant discussion point, with speakers addressing how the development would handle drainage and water runoff to prevent flooding and environmental impact in the surrounding area.

Following the presentation and discussion of these key issues, the commission moved to approve the Cherokee Park Subdivision Development Plan. However, the approval came with specific conditions that the developers must meet, though the exact nature of these conditions was not detailed in the available summary.

The approval represents a step forward for the Cherokee Park Subdivision project, allowing development to proceed once the stipulated conditions are satisfied by the applicant.

Warrenton Woods Waiver

10:00

The commission reviewed agenda item PLN-MJSUB-22-00013, a waiver request for Warrenton Woods regarding sidewalk requirements. The discussion centered on whether to grant relief from standard sidewalk installation mandates for the development.

Key speakers during the discussion included Tom Martin and Trudy, who presented the details of the waiver request and the circumstances surrounding the sidewalk requirements. The commission examined the specific conditions that warranted consideration of the waiver.

The waiver approval was directly tied to a previous council decision to accept streets in the development without requiring sidewalks. This council action provided the foundation for the commission's consideration of the waiver request, as it aligned the sidewalk requirements with the broader street acceptance policy already established.

Following discussion of the merits and the connection to the council's street acceptance decision, the commission voted to approve the Warrenton Woods waiver. The approval allows the development to proceed without meeting the standard sidewalk installation requirements that would typically apply to new subdivisions.

The outcome represents coordination between the commission's waiver decision and the council's earlier determination regarding street standards for this particular development project.