Planning Commission Zoning Items

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on January 30, 2025, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the LFUCG Government Center, located at 200 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky. The meeting was presided over by Larry Forester. The agenda included three items covering Development Plans, Zoning Map Amendments, and Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments, all of which were addressed in an informational capacity. Over the course of the meeting, the Commission conducted 7 votes and heard 2 public comments.

Attendance

The following members were present at the January 30, 2025 Commission meeting:

• Larry Forester
• Robin Michler
• Mike Owens
• Bill Wilson
• Frank Penn
• Bruce Nicol
• Ivy Barksdale
• Johnathon Davis
• Zach Davis
• Judy Worth

No members were absent. Johnathon Davis was present but arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Commission took action on seven items during the January 30, 2025 meeting.

Postponements

• PLN-MJDP-24-00095: Newtown Springs, Lot 4 (AMD) was postponed until March 13, 2025, on a motion by Ivy Barksdale, seconded by Judy Worth. The vote was unanimous, 9–0. 14:42

• PLN-ZOTA-24-00006: Revisions to Article 23A-10 for the Economic Development (ED) Zone was postponed until February 27, 2025, on a motion by Mike Owens, seconded by Frank Penn. The vote was unanimous, 9–0. 15:42

• PLN-MAR-24-00017: Rose Holdings-Lexington, LLC was postponed until February 27, 2025, on a motion by Frank Penn, seconded by Judy Worth. The vote was unanimous, 10–0. 16:44

Approvals

• PLN-MAR-22-00016: Realty Unlimited Bluegrass, LLC was approved with conditions provided by Staff, on a motion by Bill Wilson, seconded by Johnathon Davis. The roll call vote was 7–1–1. Voting in favor: Larry Forester, Robin Michler, Bill Wilson, Frank Penn, Bruce Nicol, Ivy Barksdale, and Johnathon Davis. Voting against: Mike Owens. One abstention was recorded. 1:00:12

• PLN-MJDP-22-00059: Higbee Mill Court, Lot 11 was approved with nine conditions recommended by Staff, on a motion by Bill Wilson, seconded by Johnathon Davis. The roll call vote was 7–1–1. Voting in favor: Larry Forester, Robin Michler, Bill Wilson, Frank Penn, Bruce Nicol, Ivy Barksdale, and Johnathon Davis. Voting against: Mike Owens. One abstention was recorded. 1:01:49

Text Amendment Initiations

• A motion to initiate a text amendment to address House Bill 443 was approved unanimously, 9–0, on a motion by Frank Penn, seconded by Judy Worth. 1:21:42

• A motion to initiate a text amendment to amend Article 8, Section 8-20, to remove the minimum lot coverage in the B-3 zone passed 5–4, on a motion by Bruce Nicol, seconded by Ivy Barksdale. Voting in favor: Larry Forester, Bruce Nicol, Ivy Barksdale, Johnathon Davis, and Judy Worth. Voting against: Robin Michler, Bill Wilson, Mike Owens, and Frank Penn. 1:26:12

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the Commission during the public comment period, both speaking in opposition to the Higbee Mill Court development. 38:18

• Lexi Holland spoke on behalf of Claire and Clovis Collins, objecting to the Higbee Mill Court development. Holland raised concerns about aggressive public engagement practices associated with the project, as well as unresolved right-of-way issues that she indicated had not been adequately addressed. 38:18

• Michelle Harr, President of the Higbee Mill Neighborhood Association, also voiced opposition to the Higbee Mill Court development. Harr's concerns centered on parking and density, reflecting broader neighborhood-level apprehension about the scale and impact of the proposed project on the surrounding area. 41:48

Both speakers represented perspectives from residents and organized community groups directly connected to the Higbee Mill area, and their comments collectively highlighted concerns spanning community engagement processes, infrastructure and access rights, and the development's density and parking implications.

Contested Items

Two items generated notable disagreement at the January 30, 2025 Commission meeting.

Higbee Mill Court Development

The Higbee Mill Court development drew opposition from neighboring residents, who raised concerns about parking, density, and what they characterized as aggressive public engagement on the part of the developer. The community opposition reflected broader tensions around how the project was being advanced and whether the surrounding neighborhood's concerns were being adequately addressed.

Text Amendment to Remove Minimum Lot Coverage in the B-3 Zone

A proposal to initiate a text amendment that would remove the minimum lot coverage requirement in the B-3 zone passed, but only narrowly, on a 5-4 vote. The close margin indicates that commissioners were meaningfully divided on the merits of the change. The split suggests differing views among commissioners about whether eliminating the minimum lot coverage standard in the B-3 zone is appropriate, though the measure ultimately advanced.

Development Plans

17:46

The Commission took up discussion of development plans covering two projects: Newtown Springs and Higbee Mill Court. Key speakers on this agenda item included Daniel Crum and Traci Wade.

The discussion addressed the status of both developments, including matters of postponements and approvals with conditions. No additional detail on the specific conditions attached to any approvals, the nature of any postponements, or the particular concerns raised during debate is available from the provided record.

The agenda item was informational in nature, and no final binding vote outcome is recorded for this item beyond the noted context of postponements and conditional approvals associated with the two development plans.

Zoning Map Amendments

17:46

The Commission took up Agenda Item 2, a discussion of pending zoning map amendments. Key speakers on this item included Daniel Crum and Traci Wade. The discussion covered zoning map amendment cases involving Realty Unlimited Bluegrass and Rose Holdings, addressing matters of postponements and approvals related to those cases.

No additional detail on the specific arguments presented, concerns raised, or final votes is available from the provided record. The item was recorded as informational in outcome.

Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments

1:02:53

The Commission held a discussion regarding the initiation of two zoning ordinance text amendments. Key speakers on this item were Traci Wade and Bruce Nicol.

The first proposed amendment concerns compliance with House Bill 443. The discussion centered on the need to update the zoning ordinance language to bring it into conformance with the requirements established by that legislation.

The second proposed amendment would modify Article 8, Section 8-20 of the zoning ordinance, specifically addressing minimum lot coverage standards within the B-3 zone. The Commission discussed the need to amend the existing language in that section.

This item was informational in nature, focused on initiating the text amendment process rather than taking a final vote or adopting changes. No formal action was taken at this meeting.