Planning Commission Zoning Items

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on September 26, 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 main agenda categories during the session: Development Plans, Zoning Items, and Public Hearings on Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments.

The commission successfully approved both Development Plans and Zoning Items, while postponing the Public Hearings on Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments for future consideration. Throughout the meeting, commissioners conducted 8 formal votes on various matters before them. The commission also heard from 2 members of the public who provided comments during the proceedings.

Attendance

All 16 members were present for the September 26, 2024 meeting.

Present: • Ivy Barksdale • Mike Owens • Judy Worth • Vaughan Adkins • David Filiatreau • Traci Wade • Hal Baillie • Daniel Crum • Cheryl Gallt • Paula Schumacher • Eve Miller • Boyd Sewe • Greg Lengal • Embry Beatty • Tracy Jones • Will Razor

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The commission addressed eight items during the September 26, 2024 meeting, with two postponements and six approvals.

Postponements: - PLN-MJDP-24-56: The Red Mile Mixed-Use Development was postponed to November 14, 2024, by motion of the Chairman 0:02 - PLN-ZOTA-24-6: Revisions to Article 23a-10 for the Economic Development Zone were postponed to October 24, 2024, on motion by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Miss Worth 0:04

Approvals: - PLN-MJDP-24-49: The Collins, Orrell, & Wiggins (Don Franklin Auto Mall) Development Plan was approved by voice vote with standard conditions 1-12 and three additional conditions 0:06

• PLN-MJDP-24-64: The Hamburg Place Farm, Plaudit Place Development, Lot 3 (Chick-fil-A) Development Plan passed on a 5-3 roll call vote. Mr. Michler motioned and Mr. Owens seconded. Voting in favor: Mr. Michler, Mr. Owens, Mr. Wilson, Miss Barksdale, and Miss Worth. Voting against: Mr. Davis, Mr. Forester, and the Chairman. The approval included conditions limiting drive lanes and access to Plaudit Place to two with traffic sign-off 0:10

• PLN-MAR-24-13: The Shadeland Investments, LLC Zoning Map Amendment was approved by voice vote on motion by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. Davis, with a condition prohibiting alcohol sales to protect the community 0:15

• PLN-MJDP-24-16: The Shadeland Investments Property Development Plan was approved by voice vote on motion by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. Davis, with the condition to denote the conditional zoning restriction on the plan 0:18

• PLN-MAR-24-15: The Brooke Properties, LLC Zoning Map Amendment was approved by voice vote on motion by Miss Worth, seconded by Miss Barksdale 0:22

• PLN-MJDP-24-56: The Springhurst Subdivision, Unit 2 (Brooke Properties) Development Plan was approved by voice vote on motion by Miss Worth, seconded by Miss Barksdale, with a modification to condition 15 regarding removal at the time of redevelopment of 294 Harrodsburg Road 0:25

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the meeting during the public comment period, both representing the Prall Town Neighborhood Association and expressing concerns about a proposed development in their community.

Bruce Simpson 1:30 spoke on behalf of the Prall Town Neighborhood Association, focusing on the historical significance of the Prall Town neighborhood. Simpson opposed the proposed development, citing concerns about gentrification and the potential negative impact on the existing community. He emphasized the importance of preserving the neighborhood's character and protecting current residents from displacement.

Betty Boyd 1:50, who serves as President of the Prall Town Neighborhood Association, provided both personal and historical context about the Prall Town area. Boyd shared her own connection to the neighborhood and detailed the community's history, reinforcing concerns about how the proposed development would affect the established neighborhood dynamics and residents.

Both speakers presented a unified position from the Prall Town Neighborhood Association, highlighting the community's opposition to the development proposal based on historical preservation concerns and fears about gentrification displacing long-time residents.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that generated substantial community debate.

Prall Town Development

The proposed development project in Prall Town emerged as the primary source of contention during the meeting. Community members voiced strong opposition to the development plans, expressing concerns about potential gentrification effects on the neighborhood and the preservation of its historical character.

The opposition centered on fears that the new development would fundamentally alter the character of Prall Town, a neighborhood with significant historical value. Community members raised concerns about how the project might displace existing residents through increased property values and rental costs, effectively changing the demographic composition of the area.

Residents also emphasized the importance of maintaining the historical integrity of the neighborhood, suggesting that the proposed development might compromise architectural and cultural elements that define Prall Town's unique identity.

The nature of the opposition indicates this was a grassroots community effort, with local residents organizing to voice their concerns about the development's potential impact on their neighborhood's future.

*Note: Specific details about the outcome of this contested item, the names of involved parties, and exact timestamps are not available in the provided meeting data.*

Development Plans

The commission reviewed several major development proposals during this agenda item 0:06. Key speakers included Traci Wade and Daniel Crum, who presented details on multiple projects under consideration.

The discussion covered four significant development plans:

• Collins, Orrell, & Wiggins (Don Franklin Auto Mall) - A commercial automotive development project
• Red Mile Mixed-Use Development - A mixed-use project at the Red Mile location
• Hamburg Place Farm - A development proposal for the Hamburg Place Farm property
• Plaudit Place Development - A development plan for the Plaudit Place area

While the extracted data indicates these development plans were discussed and ultimately approved, specific details about the scope, timeline, or concerns raised during the deliberations were not captured in the available materials. The presentations by Wade and Crum likely included project specifications, zoning considerations, and community impact assessments typical of such development proposals.

The commission's approval of these development plans suggests the projects met the necessary regulatory requirements and community standards. The variety of projects - ranging from automotive commercial use to mixed-use developments - indicates ongoing diversification in the area's development portfolio.

This agenda item represents significant development activity that will likely impact local infrastructure, traffic patterns, and economic growth in the affected areas.

Zoning Items

0:15

The commission reviewed multiple zoning matters during agenda item 2, focusing on zoning map amendments and zoning ordinance text amendments. The discussion involved two primary entities: Shadeland Investments, LLC and Brooke Properties, LLC.

Key speakers for this item included Daniel Crum and Traci Wade, who presented information regarding the proposed zoning changes. The commissioners examined both map amendments, which would alter the zoning designation of specific properties, and text amendments that would modify the language and requirements within the zoning ordinance.

The review process covered the technical aspects of the proposed amendments and their potential impacts on the affected properties and surrounding areas. Both Shadeland Investments, LLC and Brooke Properties, LLC had matters under consideration, though the specific details of their individual requests were part of the broader zoning amendment discussion.

Following the presentation and review of the zoning materials, the commission moved forward with their decision-making process. The zoning items were ultimately approved by the commission, allowing the proposed amendments to proceed through the regulatory process.

This approval represents the commission's determination that the zoning map amendments and text amendments met the necessary criteria and standards for approval. The decision affects both the Shadeland Investments, LLC and Brooke Properties, LLC matters that were included in this comprehensive zoning review.

Public Hearings on Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments

0:04

The commission addressed agenda item 3, which involved public hearings on proposed zoning ordinance text amendments. The discussion focused on two primary areas of regulatory revision: the regulation of solar energy systems and updates to the Economic Development zone provisions.

Traci Wade served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the proposed amendments to the commission. The text amendments represented efforts to modernize the zoning ordinance to address current development needs and emerging technologies in the solar energy sector.

The solar energy systems regulations were designed to establish clearer guidelines for the installation and operation of solar facilities within the jurisdiction. The Economic Development zone revisions aimed to update existing provisions to better support economic growth and development activities.

Following the presentation and discussion, the commission decided to postpone action on these zoning ordinance text amendments. The postponement suggests that additional review, public input, or refinement of the proposed language may be needed before the commission is prepared to move forward with adoption.

The decision to postpone allows for further consideration of the amendments and potentially additional public comment periods. This approach ensures that all stakeholders have adequate opportunity to review and provide feedback on the proposed changes to the zoning ordinance before final action is taken.