Board of Adjustment Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington Board of Adjustment convened on April 14, 2025, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chambers at 200 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky, with Raquel Carter presiding. The board worked through 4 agenda items, consisting of three variance requests and one administrative appeal. All four items were approved, with variance requests brought by Gibson Taylor Thompson, LFUCG Housing Authority, Aurelia and Oscar Romero, and an administrative appeal by FRM Lawson, LLC each receiving favorable outcomes. Over the course of the meeting, the board conducted 5 votes and heard 1 public comment.

Attendance

Six of the seven board members were present at the April 14, 2025 meeting.

Present: - Raquel Carter - Harry Clarke - James Persley - Bob Sturdivant - Linda Tucker - Chad Walker

Absent: - Branden Gross

No members arrived late.

Votes and Decisions

The Board took action on five items at the April 14, 2025 meeting. All five items were decided unanimously by a 6–0 vote, with no abstentions recorded.

• PLN-BOA-25-00030 — On a motion by Linda Tucker, seconded by James Persley, the Board unanimously voted to postpone Cane Manor LLC's conditional use permit request until the May 12, 2025 meeting. Voting in favor: Raquel Carter, Harry Clarke, James Persley, Bob Sturdivant, Linda Tucker, and Chad Walker.

• PLN-BOA-25-00028 — On a motion by Harry Clarke, seconded by Bob Sturdivant, the Board unanimously voted to approve the variance request by Gibson Taylor Thompson to reduce a side yard setback, subject to three conditions as listed. Voting in favor: Raquel Carter, Harry Clarke, James Persley, Bob Sturdivant, Linda Tucker, and Chad Walker.

• PLN-BOA-25-00036 — On a motion by Chad Walker, seconded by Linda Tucker, the Board unanimously voted to approve the variance request by LFUCG Housing Authority to reduce an exterior yard, subject to three conditions as listed. Voting in favor: Raquel Carter, Harry Clarke, James Persley, Bob Sturdivant, Linda Tucker, and Chad Walker.

• PLN-BOA-24-00184 — On a motion by Chad Walker, seconded by Linda Tucker, the Board unanimously voted to approve a lesser variance for accessory buildings and driveway width as requested by Aurelia and Oscar Romero. Voting in favor: Raquel Carter, Harry Clarke, James Persley, Bob Sturdivant, Linda Tucker, and Chad Walker.

• PLN-BOA-24-00214 — On a motion by Chad Walker, the Board unanimously voted to uphold the decision of the Division of Building Inspection in the administrative appeal filed by FRM Lawson, LLC regarding a principal structure. Voting in favor: Raquel Carter, Harry Clarke, James Persley, Bob Sturdivant, Linda Tucker, and Chad Walker.

No transcript timestamps are available for any of the above items. No seconder was recorded for PLN-BOA-24-00214.

Public Comment

One member of the public addressed the Board during the public comment period at the April 14, 2025 meeting.

• Jessica Winters, representing Shadwell Farm, spoke in opposition to a short-term rental permit application submitted by Colonial Hall of Lexington, LLC. Winters raised concerns about the potential for events to be held at the property and the adverse impacts such activity could have on neighboring agricultural uses.

No timestamp is available for this comment in the meeting record.

Contested Items

• Short-Term Rental Permit — Colonial Hall of Lexington, LLC

The Board considered a short-term rental permit application from Colonial Hall of Lexington, LLC, which drew opposition from neighboring property owners. Shadwell Farm and other adjacent landowners raised concerns about the permit, specifically citing the potential for events to be held at the property and the adverse impacts such activity could have on nearby agricultural uses. [timestamp: not available]

The dispute centered on whether granting the permit would be compatible with the surrounding agricultural character of the area, with opponents arguing that short-term rental operations — particularly if accompanied by gatherings or events — could conflict with and negatively affect their farming operations. The outcome of the Board's deliberations on this item was not specified in the available data.

Variance Request by Gibson Taylor Thompson

Agenda Item: PLN-BOA-25-00028

The Board considered a variance request submitted by Gibson Taylor Thompson seeking a reduction in the required side yard setback within a historic district overlay. Specifically, the request asked to reduce the minimum side yard setback from five feet to three feet.

Darren Taylor addressed the Board as a key speaker on this item, presenting or speaking to the details of the variance request. The application falls under the historic district overlay, which adds an additional layer of regulatory consideration to standard setback requirements.

The Board ultimately approved the variance request.

*No transcript timestamp is available for this agenda item.*

Variance Request by LFUCG Housing Authority

Case No. PLN-BOA-25-00036

The Board considered a variance request submitted by the LFUCG Housing Authority seeking to reduce the required exterior yard for a group residential project from twenty feet to fifteen feet — a reduction of five feet from the standard requirement.

Tony Barrett was identified as a key speaker in connection with this item. The request was presented to the Board for consideration, with the variance focused specifically on the exterior yard setback dimension applicable to the group residential project.

The Board ultimately approved the variance request.

*No transcript timestamp is available for this agenda item.*

Variance Request by Aurelia and Oscar Romero

Case No. PLN-BOA-24-00184

The Board considered a variance request submitted by Aurelia and Oscar Romero seeking relief on two separate zoning standards: accessory building size and driveway width.

Aurelia Romero appeared before the Board as a key speaker on behalf of the applicants to present the request.

The applicants sought variances for:

• Accessory building size — a variance from the applicable size limitations for an accessory structure on the property
• Driveway width — a variance from the applicable driveway width standards

Following the presentation and Board discussion, the Board approved variances for both items, though at a lesser scope than originally requested by the Romeros. Rather than granting the full extent of relief sought, the Board approved reduced variances for both the accessory building size and the driveway width, representing a compromise between the applicants' request and full compliance with the existing ordinance standards.

The outcome for this case was approved (with lesser variances granted on both counts).

Administrative appeal by FRM Lawson, LLC

Agenda Item: PLN-BOA-24-00214

The Board considered an administrative appeal filed by FRM Lawson, LLC concerning a decision related to the absence of a principal structure on their property. Lauren Storr was a key speaker during the discussion of this item.

The appeal centered on a prior administrative determination regarding the property's lack of a principal structure. FRM Lawson, LLC brought the appeal before the Board seeking a reversal or modification of that original decision.

Following the presentation and discussion, the Board voted to uphold the original decision, denying the appeal by FRM Lawson, LLC. The outcome was recorded as approved — meaning the Board approved the motion to sustain the prior administrative ruling.

*No transcript timestamp was available for this agenda item.*