Urban County Council Zone Change Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government held a meeting on April 18, 2023, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice Mayor Wu presiding. The meeting addressed one agenda item, Ordinance 0244-23, which was approved by the council. During the session, council members took one official vote and heard from six members of the public during the public comment period. The meeting focused on the consideration and passage of the single ordinance on the agenda.

Attendance

The meeting on April 18, 2023 had twelve members present and three absent.

Present: • Vice Mayor Wu • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Elliott Baxter • Gray • LeGris • Lynch • Plomin • Sevigny • Sheehan • Worley

Absent: • Fogle • Monarrez • Reynolds

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted one formal vote during the April 18, 2023 meeting.

Ordinance 0244-23 7:12 The council voted on an ordinance modifying a conditional zoning restriction for property located at 2400 Versailles Road. Ms. Gray made the motion, which was seconded by Ms. Plomin.

The ordinance passed unanimously by roll call vote with 12 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions.

Council members voting in favor: • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Elliott Baxter • Gray • LeGris • Lynch • Plomin • Sevigny • Sheehan • Worley • Wu

The approved ordinance includes prohibited uses and other use restrictions as specified in the legislation for the Versailles Road property.

Public Comment

Six residents spoke during the public comment period, with opinions divided on a proposed development and zoning change.

Dottie Bean [timestamp: MM:SS] expressed concerns about traffic flow on Versailles Road and voiced support for the rights of other opponents to comment on the proposal.

Paula Singer [timestamp: MM:SS] opposed the zoning change, citing safety improvements and neighborhood services already present in the area as reasons against the development.

Francisco Castro [timestamp: MM:SS] spoke in support of the development, highlighting potential improvements and beautification benefits the project could bring to the area.

Austin Wilkerson [timestamp: MM:SS] opposed the development, emphasizing the residential character of the neighborhood and raising concerns about increased traffic impacts.

Bryan Mullins [timestamp: MM:SS] supported the development proposal, sharing his personal experience with property improvement efforts in the area to illustrate potential benefits.

Zachary Skubitz [timestamp: MM:SS] expressed general support for the development, specifically appreciating the proposed pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure improvements.

The public comments revealed a community split on the development proposal, with traffic concerns being a primary issue for opponents, while supporters focused on potential area improvements and infrastructure benefits. Three speakers supported the development while three opposed it, creating an even division of public opinion on the matter.

Contested Items

The meeting included one contested item that generated community opposition and debate among council members.

Zoning Change for 2400 Versailles Road

The primary contested issue involved a proposed zoning change for the property located at 2400 Versailles Road. The proposal faced significant opposition from community members who raised concerns about the potential impact on local traffic patterns and the broader effects on the surrounding neighborhood.

Community members voiced their objections during the public comment period, expressing worries that the zoning change would lead to increased traffic congestion in an area already experiencing transportation challenges. Residents also raised concerns about how the proposed development would affect the character and quality of life in their neighborhood.

Despite the community opposition, the council ultimately voted to approve the zoning change. The decision suggests that council members weighed the community concerns against other factors such as development needs, economic considerations, or compliance with broader planning objectives.

The approval of this contested zoning change demonstrates the tension that can arise between community preferences and municipal development decisions, highlighting the challenges local governments face when balancing neighborhood concerns with broader city planning goals.

Ordinance 0244-23

5:11

The council considered Ordinance 0244-23, which would modify a conditional zoning restriction in the Neighborhood Business (B-1) zone for property located at 2400 Versailles Road.

Key speakers during the discussion included Traci Wade, Branden Gross, Clay Johnson, and Tony Barrett, who presented information and participated in the debate regarding the proposed zoning modification.

The ordinance addressed specific conditional restrictions that currently apply to the B-1 zoned property at 2400 Versailles Road. The modification would alter these existing conditions, though the specific nature of the changes and the rationale behind them were discussed by the speakers during the meeting.

Following the presentation and discussion among council members and staff, the ordinance was approved by the council. The approval allows for the modification of the conditional zoning restriction to move forward for the Versailles Road property.

This zoning change represents an adjustment to the regulatory framework governing the use of the property within the Neighborhood Business district, potentially affecting how the property can be developed or utilized in accordance with the city's zoning requirements.