Planning Commission Zoning Items

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on April 24, 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 addressed 2 agenda items, both involving zoning map amendments. Over the course of the meeting, commissioners heard 4 public comments and took 3 votes.

Of the two zoning map amendments considered, the Rose Holdings-Lexington, LLC Zoning Map Amendment was postponed, while the Subtext Acquisitions, LLC Zoning Map Amendment was approved.

Attendance

The following members were present at the April 24, 2025 Commission meeting:

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

No members were recorded as absent. Mike Owens was present but arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

Three formal actions were taken during the April 24, 2025 Commission meeting.

- PLN-MAR-24-00017 — Rose Holdings-Lexington, LLC Zone Map Amendment (Postponement) Motion by Zach Davis, seconded by Mike Owens. The Commission voted unanimously to postpone this zone map amendment, 11–0. All members voted in favor: Larry Forester, Robin Michler, Mike Owens, Bill Wilson, Frank Penn, Bruce Nicol, Ivy Barksdale, Johnathon Davis, Zach Davis, Judy Worth, and Molly Davis.

- PLN-MAR-25-00005 — Subtext Acquisitions, LLC Zoning Map Amendment (Approval) Motion by Mike Owens, seconded by Ivy Barksdale. The Commission approved this zoning map amendment by a roll call vote of 8–1, noting the conditional restrictions. Voting in favor: Larry Forester, Robin Michler, Mike Owens, Bill Wilson, Frank Penn, Ivy Barksdale, Johnathon Davis, and Judy Worth. Voting against: Molly Davis.

- PLN-MJDP-25-00014 — Subtext Development II Major Development Plan (Approval with Conditions) Motion by Mike Owens, seconded by Ivy Barksdale. The Commission approved this major development plan by a roll call vote of 8–1. Voting in favor: Larry Forester, Robin Michler, Mike Owens, Bill Wilson, Frank Penn, Ivy Barksdale, Johnathon Davis, and Judy Worth. Voting against: Molly Davis. Approval was granted with the condition that the final development plan shall incorporate pedestrian entrances, landscaping, use of various materials, and a step back of the structure along Lexington Avenue.

Public Comment

Four members of the public addressed the Commission during the comment period, all raising concerns related to a proposed development and zone change.

• Rev. Matt Falco spoke about traffic and parking, emphasizing the impact the proposed development would have on the surrounding area. He highlighted the church's daily activities and pointed to existing congestion as a reason for concern about adding further strain to local infrastructure.

• Dr. Zak Leonard focused on historic preservation, criticizing the proposal for failing to account for the historic significance of existing structures on or near the development site. He urged the Commission to consider adaptive reuse as an alternative approach rather than proceeding with new construction.

• Amy Clark addressed university housing policy, arguing that the University of Kentucky should take greater responsibility for housing students on its own campus. She used this argument as a basis for opposing the zone change connected to the proposed development.

• Maureen Peters also opposed the zone change, citing the potential loss of historic houses in the area. She additionally raised concerns about the direct impact on her own property, specifically noting that the proposed development would reduce sunlight to her home.

No transcript timestamps were available for the public comment period.

Contested Items

• Subtext Acquisitions, LLC Zoning Map Amendment: This item drew community opposition centered on several concerns, including historic preservation, traffic impacts, and the potential effect on the surrounding neighborhood's character. Residents and stakeholders raised objections to the proposed zoning map amendment, reflecting broader tensions between new development and the preservation of existing neighborhood identity. The structured data does not specify the outcome of this item or identify the individual speakers involved in the debate.

Rose Holdings-Lexington, LLC Zoning Map Amendment

The Commission took up a petition submitted by Rose Holdings-Lexington, LLC requesting a zoning map amendment for property located at 1899 Parkers Mill Road. The proposal sought to rezone the parcel from a Single Family Residential (R-1A) zone to a Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) zone.

Key speaker Daniel Crum was associated with this agenda item. No detailed presentation, debate, or concerns are reflected in the available record for this item.

The Commission did not act on the merits of the rezoning request at this meeting. The item was postponed.

Subtext Acquisitions, LLC Zoning Map Amendment

The Commission took up a petition filed by Subtext Acquisitions, LLC requesting a zoning map amendment for properties located at E. Maxwell Street and Lexington Ave. The proposal sought to rezone the affected parcels from a Professional Office (P-1) zone and a Medium Density Residential (R-4) zone to a Downtown Frame Business (B-2A) zone.

Key speakers on this item included Daniel Crum, Ryan Bumb, and Nick Nicholson. The discussion covered the substance of the rezoning request, including the implications of transitioning the properties from their current office and medium-density residential designations to the Downtown Frame Business classification.

The Commission ultimately approved the zoning map amendment with conditions.

*Note: Detailed timestamps, specific arguments raised, and the precise conditions attached to the approval are not available in the source data for this item.*