Planning Commission Zoning Public Hearing

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on August 24, 2023, 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, though neither reached final resolution. The meeting included consideration of an amendment to Article 17 regarding additional electronic message display signage, which was postponed, and a zoning map amendment request from Clear Optiks, LLC, which was tabled for future consideration. The commission heard from 5 public commenters and conducted 2 formal votes during the proceedings.

Attendance

The following members were present at the August 24, 2023 meeting:

• Larry Forester
• Ivy Barksdale
• Headley Bell
• Zach Davis
• Robin Michler
• Graham Pohl
• William Wilson
• Mike Owens
• Judy Worth

Two members were absent:

• Janice Meyer
• Bruce Nicol

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The commission took action on two items during the August 24, 2023 meeting, both resulting in postponements.

PLN-ZOTA-23-00002 - Electronic Message Display Signage Amendment 0:05

Graham Pohl motioned to postpone the amendment to Article 17 regarding additional electronic message display signage, with Zach Davis providing the second. The motion passed unanimously with all nine commissioners voting in favor: Larry Forester, Ivy Barksdale, Headley Bell, Zach Davis, Robin Michler, Graham Pohl, William Wilson, Mike Owens, and Judy Worth. No commissioners voted against the postponement or abstained.

PLN-MAR-23-00011 - Clear Optiks, LLC Zoning Map Amendment 2:45

William Wilson motioned for continuance of the Clear Optiks, LLC zoning map amendment, seconded by Mike Owens. The motion received unanimous approval with all nine commissioners voting in favor: Larry Forester, Ivy Barksdale, Headley Bell, Zach Davis, Robin Michler, Graham Pohl, William Wilson, Mike Owens, and Judy Worth. The item was continued to October 26, 2023, specifically to explore pedestrian safety options related to the proposed development.

Both votes demonstrated complete consensus among the commission members, with no dissenting votes or abstentions recorded on either matter. The postponements allow for additional time to address specific concerns - electronic signage regulations in the first case and pedestrian safety considerations in the second case.

Public Comment

Five residents spoke during the public comment period, all expressing concerns about a proposed breakfast restaurant with drive-thru service and its potential impact on the community.

Lynn Flynn 1:30 opened the public comment period by raising concerns about traffic flow and safety impacts on Clays Mill Road that would result from the proposed breakfast restaurant with drive-thru service.

Stephen Davis 1:45 followed by sharing personal experiences with traffic accidents in the area and voiced concerns that increased traffic from the restaurant would make the already dangerous conditions worse for local residents and commuters.

Charles Thompson 1:50 focused his comments on walkability issues and the specific safety hazards that would be created by vehicles attempting to turn left onto Clays Mill Road from the proposed restaurant location. He emphasized how this maneuver would pose dangers to pedestrians and other drivers.

Mary Chezney Ringo 1:55 addressed the broader need for traffic calming measures in the area, citing frequent accidents at nearby intersections as evidence that additional traffic-generating businesses would exacerbate existing safety problems.

Amy Clark 2:00 concluded the public comment period by directly opposing the proposed zone change. She argued that there was no compelling community need for the restaurant and raised concerns about potential non-conformity issues that could arise from the development.

All speakers focused primarily on traffic safety and flow concerns, with no residents speaking in favor of the proposed restaurant or zone change during this portion of the meeting.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that drew significant community opposition.

Clear Optiks, LLC Zoning Map Amendment

The primary point of contention involved a zoning map amendment request from Clear Optiks, LLC. The proposal sought to change zoning regulations to accommodate a new restaurant facility that would include drive-thru service.

Community residents attended the meeting to voice their opposition to the proposed zoning change. The main concerns raised by residents centered on two key issues:

• Traffic Impact: Residents expressed worry that the new restaurant with drive-thru service would significantly increase vehicle traffic in the area
• Safety Concerns: Community members raised questions about potential safety issues that could arise from the increased traffic flow

The opposition appeared to be organized, with multiple residents participating in the discussion to express their shared concerns about how the proposed development would affect their neighborhood.

*Note: The outcome of this contested item and specific timestamp information were not available in the provided meeting materials.*

Amendment to Article 17 for additional electronic message display signage

0:05

The council considered petition PLN-ZOTA-23-00002, a proposed zoning ordinance text amendment that would allow additional electronic message display signage, including video displays, in the Lexington Center Business (B-2B) zone.

Traci Wade served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the proposed amendment to Article 17 of the zoning ordinance. The petition seeks to expand the types of electronic signage permitted in the B-2B zoning district, specifically adding provisions for video display capabilities beyond the currently allowed electronic message displays.

The proposed amendment would modify existing signage regulations in the Lexington Center Business zone, which is a commercial district that likely encompasses key business areas within the city. The addition of video display signage represents a modernization of the city's signage ordinances to accommodate evolving digital advertising and communication technologies.

Following the presentation and any discussion that occurred during the meeting, the council decided to postpone action on this zoning ordinance text amendment. The postponement suggests that additional review, public input, or revisions may be needed before the council is ready to make a final determination on whether to approve the expanded electronic signage provisions.

The item will presumably return to a future council meeting agenda for further consideration once any outstanding issues or concerns have been addressed.

Clear Optiks, LLC zoning map amendment

0:10

The council considered petition PLN-MAR-23-00011, a zoning map amendment request from Clear Optiks, LLC to rezone property at 1617 Clays Mill Road from Professional Office (P-1) to Neighborhood Business (B-1).

Key speakers during the discussion included Daniel Crum, Tom Martin, and Dick Murphy, though the specific details of their presentations and concerns were not detailed in the available materials.

The petition sought to change the zoning classification to allow for neighborhood business uses rather than the current professional office designation. The Neighborhood Business (B-1) zone typically permits a broader range of commercial activities compared to the more restrictive Professional Office (P-1) zoning.

Following discussion, the council decided to table the ordinance rather than proceed with a vote. The decision to table suggests that additional information, further review, or resolution of outstanding issues may be needed before the council is prepared to make a final determination on the zoning change request.

The tabling of this item means the petition will be reconsidered at a future meeting, allowing time for any necessary additional review or public input before the council makes its final decision on whether to approve the requested zoning map amendment for the Clays Mill Road property.