Planning Commission Zoning Items

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on April 25, 2024, 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, taking a total of seven votes throughout the meeting. Two development-related items were approved: the Anthony Humphress Zoning Map Amendment and Kidwell & Otis Property (Golf View Estates) Development Plan, and the Denton Floyd Real Estate Group Zoning Map Amendment and Coventry (Belmont Farm) Lot 6 Development Plan. The third item, an Amendment to Article 8-1 regarding Outdoor Recreation in the Agricultural Rural (A-R) Zone, was postponed for future consideration. No public comments were heard during this meeting.

Attendance

Present: • Larry Forester • Zach Davis • William Wilson • Janice Meyer • Judy Worth • Ivy Barksdale • Bruce Nicol • Robin Michler

Absent: • Graham Pohl • Mike Owens • Johnathon Davis

Late: • None

Eight members were present for the meeting, with three members absent. No members arrived late to the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The commission took action on seven items during the April 25, 2024 meeting, with all votes passing unanimously with 8 ayes and 0 nays.

PLN-ZOTA-23-00004 0:30: William Wilson motioned to postpone the amendment to Article 8-1, Outdoor Recreation in the Agricultural Rural (A-R) Zone, seconded by Judy Worth. The postponement was approved unanimously by all eight commissioners: Larry Forester, Zach Davis, William Wilson, Janice Meyer, Judy Worth, Ivy Barksdale, Bruce Nicol, and Robin Michler.

PLN-MAR-24-00002 1:30: Janice Meyer motioned to approve the Anthony Humphress zoning map amendment, seconded by Judy Worth. The motion passed unanimously with all eight commissioners voting in favor.

PLN-MJDP-23-00003 2:30: The Kidwell & Otis Property (Golf View Estates) development plan was approved on a motion by Janice Meyer, seconded by Ivy Barksdale. The approval included revised conditions, removing conditions #8 and #9 while maintaining 7 conditions. All eight commissioners voted in favor.

Floodplain Setback Variance 3:30: A variance to reduce the floodplain setback from 25 feet to 15 feet was approved unanimously on a motion by Janice Meyer, seconded by Ivy Barksdale. The approval included adding language "or use 6" X 6" posts if necessary" to condition b.

PLN-MAR-24-00006 4:30: Zach Davis motioned to approve the Denton Floyd Real Estate Group zoning map amendment, seconded by Bruce Nicol. The motion passed unanimously.

PLN-MJDP-24-00018 5:30: The Coventry (Belmont Farm) Lot 6 development plan was approved on a motion by Zach Davis, seconded by Bruce Nicol, with revised 7 conditions. All commissioners voted in favor.

Work Session Cancellation 6:30: William Wilson motioned to cancel the May 16, 2024 work session, seconded by Judy Worth. The cancellation was approved unanimously by all eight commissioners.

Anthony Humphress Zoning Map Amendment and Kidwell & Otis Property (Golf View Estates)

1:00

The commission reviewed a petition for a zone map amendment from Single Family Residential (R-1C) to Townhouse Residential (R-1T) for the Anthony Humphress property and Kidwell & Otis Property, part of the Golf View Estates development. The petition also included a variance request to reduce the required setback from the floodplain.

Key speakers during the discussion included Daniel Crum, Cheryl Gallt, and Dick Murphy, who presented details about the proposed zoning change and development plans. The rezoning would allow for townhouse development in an area currently zoned for single-family residential use.

A significant component of the petition involved the variance request to reduce setback requirements from the floodplain, which would allow the development to proceed with the proposed site layout. This aspect of the request required careful consideration of flood management and safety regulations.

The commission ultimately approved the petition, allowing the zone map amendment from R-1C to R-1T and granting the requested variance for reduced floodplain setbacks. This approval enables the Golf View Estates development to move forward with townhouse construction under the new zoning designation.

The decision represents a change in the character of development for this area, transitioning from single-family residential zoning to a higher-density townhouse residential classification while accommodating the specific site constraints related to floodplain proximity.

Denton Floyd Real Estate Group Zoning Map Amendment and Coventry (Belmont Farm)

4:00

The meeting addressed a petition by Denton Floyd Real Estate Group for a zoning map amendment from Professional Office (P-1) to Medium Density Residential (R-4) for property known as Coventry (Belmont Farm) Lot 6. The proposal includes a development plan for a 280-unit multi-family residential development.

Key speakers during the discussion included Daniel Crum, Tom Martin, and Lexy Holland, who presented details about the zoning change request and the proposed residential development project.

The petition represents a significant shift in the intended use of the property, moving from professional office designation to medium-density residential housing. The proposed 280-unit multi-family development would substantially increase the residential density in the area compared to the current zoning classification.

Following discussion of the zoning amendment and development plan details, the item was approved by the meeting body. The approval allows the property to proceed with the residential development under the new R-4 zoning designation, enabling construction of the multi-family housing units as proposed in the development plan.

Amendment to Article 8-1, Outdoor Recreation in the Agricultural Rural (A-R) Zone

0:30

The meeting addressed agenda item 3, a proposed text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that would modify Article 8-1 regarding outdoor recreation in the Agricultural Rural (A-R) Zone. The amendment specifically sought to reclassify baseball diamonds from an accessory use to a conditional use within this zoning district.

Daniel Crum served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the proposed ordinance changes to the board.

The amendment represents a significant shift in how baseball diamonds would be regulated in Agricultural Rural zones. Currently classified as accessory uses, baseball diamonds can be established with minimal regulatory oversight. The proposed change to conditional use status would require property owners to go through a more rigorous approval process, including public hearings and specific conditions that must be met before approval.

This reclassification would give local authorities greater control over where and how baseball diamonds are developed in agricultural areas, potentially addressing concerns about traffic, noise, lighting, and other impacts on rural communities.

After discussion, the board decided to postpone action on this ordinance amendment. The postponement suggests that additional review, public input, or revisions may be needed before the board is ready to vote on the proposed changes to Article 8-1.

The postponement means the current regulations remain in effect, with baseball diamonds continuing to be treated as accessory uses in the Agricultural Rural zone until the matter is reconsidered at a future meeting.