Board of Adjustment Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Division of Planning Planning Services Section Board of Adjustment convened on December 8, 2025, at 1:30 PM in the Council Chambers at 200 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky, with Chair Sturdivant presiding. The board worked through a full agenda of 9 items, consisting of 3 variance appeals and 6 conditional use permit applications (including 2 amendments). All 9 items on the agenda were approved, resulting in 9 votes taken over the course of the meeting. No public comments were heard during the session.

The variance appeals considered involved requests from Gibson Taylor Thompson, Scott Book, and Bryan and Megan Brooks, all of which were approved. The conditional use permit matters addressed applications from AR+R Properties LLC, Faila Mpunzi, Adrianne Kavanaugh, and Meghann Gregory, as well as amendments to existing conditional use permits for Transylvania University and Lexington Korean Presbyterian, Inc. — each of which also received board approval. No presentations were recorded as part of the meeting's proceedings.

Attendance

The following members were present at the Board meeting on 2025-12-08:

• James Persily
• Chad Walker
• Linda Tucker
• Bob Sardar
• Harry Clark
• Ross Boggess
• Brandon Gross

No members were absent or late. All seven members were in attendance for the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

All nine items before the Board on December 8, 2025 passed unanimously by a 7–0 vote. All votes were cast in favor by James Persily, Chad Walker, Linda Tucker, Bob Sardar, Harry Clark, Ross Boggess, and Brandon Gross, with no nays or abstentions recorded.

• PLN-BOA-25-00130 — Variance to reduce the required side street side yard setback from 30 feet to 8 feet. Motioned by Mr. Gross, seconded by Mr. Boggess. Passed 7–0. 1:14:12

• PLN-BOA-25-00098 — Conditional use permit for an un-hosted short-term rental, with occupancy limited to no more than eight individuals. Motioned by Mr. Chair, seconded by Mr. Boggess. Passed 7–0. 1:17:32

• PLN-BOA-25-00117 — Conditional use permit for an un-hosted short-term rental, with occupancy limited to no more than eight individuals. Motioned by Mr. Chair, seconded by Mr. Boggess. Passed 7–0. 1:20:46

• PLN-BOA-25-00091 — Variance to reduce the required front yard setback from 30 feet to 20 feet and the side street side yard setback from 30 feet to 25 feet. Motioned by Mr. Chair, seconded by Mr. Clark. Approval requires a Certificate of Appropriateness and all necessary permits. Passed 7–0. 1:34:55

• PLN-BOA-25-00138 — Variance to reduce the required rear yard setback from 100 feet to 97 feet. Motioned by Mr. Chair, seconded by Mr. Tucker. Passed 7–0. 1:37:22

• PLN-BOA-25-00114 — Conditional use permit for a Type II Childcare Center, with childcare limited to up to 12 children. Motioned by Mr. Chair, seconded by Mr. Persily. Passed 7–0. 1:39:08

• PLN-BOA-25-00131 — Conditional use permit to establish an assisted living facility. Motioned by Mr. Gross, seconded by Mr. Boggess. Passed 7–0. 1:40:50

• PLN-BOA-25-00136 — Amendment to a conditional use permit to construct an addition to an existing on-campus building. Motioned by Mr. Chair, seconded by Mr. Gross. Passed 7–0. 1:44:13

• PLN-BOA-25-00137 — Amendment to an existing conditional use permit for a place of religious assembly. Motioned by Mr. Chair, seconded by Mr. Boggess. Passed 7–0. 1:46:30

Contested Items

• Variance Appeal for Scott Book: This item generated discussion centered on two key questions: whether the lot in question possessed sufficient unique characteristics to justify a variance, and how to treat the non-conforming status of the existing structure on the property. Staff had initially recommended disapproval of the variance request, placing them at odds with the appellant's position. Community opposition was also a factor in the debate surrounding this item. After deliberation, the Board voted to approve the variance, overriding the staff recommendation for disapproval.

Variance Appeal for Gibson Taylor Thompson

Case No. PLN-BOA-25-00091 1:34:55

The Board considered a variance appeal submitted by Gibson Taylor Thompson requesting reductions to two setback requirements on the subject property. Specifically, the request sought to reduce the required front yard setback from 30 feet to 20 feet and the street side yard setback from 30 feet to 25 feet.

• Key Speaker: Vincent Thompson presented on behalf of the applicant.
• Request: A 10-foot reduction to the front yard setback (from 30 feet to 20 feet) and a 5-foot reduction to the street side yard setback (from 30 feet to 25 feet).
• Outcome: The Board approved the variance appeal.

The structured record does not include additional detail regarding specific arguments made in support of the request, concerns raised by Board members, or conditions attached to the approval. Readers seeking the full discussion are encouraged to review the meeting video beginning at approximately 1:34:55.

Variance Appeal for Scott Book

1:14:12

The Board considered agenda item PLN-BOA-25-00130, a variance appeal submitted by Scott Book requesting a reduction in the required side street side yard setback from 30 feet to 8 feet.

Scott Book appeared as the key speaker on this item. The request sought a significant reduction in the standard setback requirement, bringing the side street side yard setback down by 22 feet from the ordinance-mandated 30-foot minimum.

The Board approved the variance appeal.

*Note: Additional details regarding the specific arguments presented, any concerns raised by Board members, and the full deliberation on this item are not available in the provided source materials.*

Conditional Use Permit Amendment for Transylvania University

1:44:13

The Board considered agenda item PLN-BOA-25-00136, a request to amend a conditional use permit to allow for the construction of an addition to an existing on-campus building at Transylvania University.

Dick Murphy was the key speaker presenting on this item. The request involved amending an existing conditional use permit to accommodate the proposed building addition on the university's campus.

The Board approved the conditional use permit amendment.

*Note: Additional details regarding the specific building involved, the nature of the addition, any conditions attached to the approval, and the substance of any debate or concerns raised are not available in the provided source materials.*

Conditional Use Permit Amendment for Lexington Korean Presbyterian, Inc

Agenda Item: PLN-BOA-25-00137 | 1:46:30

The Board considered a request to amend an existing conditional use permit for a place of religious assembly submitted by Lexington Korean Presbyterian, Inc.

• Dick Murphy was the key speaker presenting on this agenda item.
• The request sought to amend the terms of an existing conditional use permit governing the religious assembly use.

The Board approved the conditional use permit amendment.

*Note: Limited detail is available in the source materials regarding the specific terms of the amendment, the nature of any debate or concerns raised, or the vote count. Readers seeking additional detail are encouraged to consult the full meeting record or view the relevant portion of the meeting video beginning at approximately the 1:46:30 mark.*