Planning Commission Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission convened on June 11, 2009, at 1:37 PM in the Council Chambers of the Urban County Government Building, located at 200 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky, with Neill Day presiding. The meeting addressed six agenda items spanning subdivision plats and development proposals across the Lexington area. Of the six items considered, five were approved and one — Taylor Place (Stinnett Property) — was postponed, though a separate matter under the same name was approved. Over the course of the meeting, the Commission took a total of 16 votes, heard no public comments, and no formal presentations were recorded in the meeting record.

Attendance

The following members were present at the June 11, 2009 Commission meeting:

• Neill Day
• Ed Holmes
• Frank Penn
• Lynn Roche-Phillips
• Marie Copeland
• Mike Owens
• Mike Cravens
• Patrick Brewer
• Carolyn Richardson

Absent: Randall Vaughn, Joan Whitman

No members were recorded as late.

Votes and Decisions

All votes at the June 11, 2009 Commission meeting were taken by voice vote and passed unanimously 9–0. The following members voted in favor of every motion: Neill Day, Ed Holmes, Frank Penn, Lynn Roche-Phillips, Marie Copeland, Mike Owens, Mike Cravens, Patrick Brewer, and Carolyn Richardson. No nays or abstentions were recorded on any item.

• Minutes – Lynn Roche-Phillips moved, Mike Owens seconded approval of the May 14, 2009 minutes. Passed 9–0. 0:08

• DP 2009-30 (Richardson Properties) – Mike Owens moved, Lynn Roche-Phillips seconded postponement to June 25, 2009. Passed 9–0. 1:42

• PLAN 2008-71P (Hampton Springs) – Frank Penn moved, Patrick Brewer seconded postponement to July 9, 2009. Passed 9–0. 2:23

• PLAN 2008-76F (Bogie Estate, Lot 1) – Frank Penn moved, Patrick Brewer seconded postponement to July 9, 2009. Passed 9–0. 3:27

• DP 2009-34 (Beaumont Farm, Unit 1, Section 1) – Ed Holmes moved, Carolyn Richardson seconded postponement to July 9, 2009. Passed 9–0. 4:00

• PLAN 2009-39F (Ramsey/Sullivan Property, Unit 3, Section 2, Lots 33–45) – Mike Cravens moved, Frank Penn seconded postponement to July 9, 2009. Passed 9–0. 5:12

• DP 2009-27 (Ramsey/Sullivan Property) – Patrick Brewer moved, Frank Penn seconded postponement to July 9, 2009. Passed 9–0. 5:50

• Consent Agenda (excluding postponed items) – Frank Penn moved, Carolyn Richardson seconded approval. Passed 9–0. 10:36

• PLAN 2009-55P (Masterson Station, Unit 10 & Masterson Hills, Unit 1) – Mike Owens moved approval subject to revised staff recommendations. Passed 9–0. 30:58

• PLAN 2009-57P (Taylor Place – Stinnett Property) – Marie Copeland moved approval subject to 20 conditions noted on the agenda. Passed 9–0. 47:35

• PLAN 2009-27F (Reserve at Walnut Grove, Unit 1-C) – Frank Penn moved approval with deletion of note 11. Passed 9–0. 59:23

• PLAN 2009-52F (Hi-Acres Shopping Center) – Frank Penn moved approval of a waiver. Passed 9–0. 1:04:44 Frank Penn then moved approval of the plan itself with 10 conditions. Passed 9–0. 1:05:18

• PLAN 2009-54F (Taylor Place – Stinnett Property) – Marie Copeland moved postponement for two weeks due to lack of affidavit and sign posting. Passed 9–0. 1:17:53

• DP 2009-40 (Wolf Run Industrial Park, Lot 5) – Mike Owens moved approval with 10 remaining conditions. Passed 9–0. 1:24:36

• Release of performance bonds and letters of credit – Frank Penn moved approval. Passed 9–0. 1:25:42

Masterson Station, Unit 10 & Masterson Hills, Unit 1

Plan: PLAN 2009-55P 12:21

This agenda item concerned a proposed amendment to revise the street and lot layout for the Masterson Station, Unit 10 and Masterson Hills, Unit 1 developments, converting a townhouse configuration into single-family lots.

Key speakers on this item included Rory Kahly, Marie Copeland, and Mike Owens. The discussion centered on the plan amendment's proposed changes to the subdivision layout, which involved reconfiguring lots originally designed for townhouses into single-family residential lots.

Prior to the full Commission discussion, the Subdivision Committee had reviewed the item and recommended referral rather than immediate approval, citing outstanding questions regarding:

• A pedestrian easement associated with the revised layout
• The density change resulting from the conversion of townhouse lots to single-family lots

These concerns prompted further deliberation among commissioners and key speakers during the meeting. The pedestrian easement question likely related to how public access and connectivity would be maintained or altered under the new lot configuration, while the density change raised questions about consistency with the original development plan and applicable zoning standards.

Despite the Subdivision Committee's referral recommendation, the Commission ultimately approved the plan amendment following the discussion.

Taylor Place (Stinnett Property)

Agenda Item: PLAN 2009-57P 32:03

The Commission took up discussion of the Taylor Place (Stinnett Property) plan, which centered on the construction of a private access easement. Key participants in the discussion included Tom Martin, Rick Moore, and Hillard Newman.

The Subdivision Committee had previously reviewed the plan and recommended referral back to the Commission due to concerns surrounding the proposed access easement. Those concerns formed the basis of the Commission's deliberations during this meeting.

Following discussion of the access easement issues raised by the Subdivision Committee, the Commission ultimately voted to approve the plan.

Reserve at Walnut Grove, Unit 1-C

Agenda Item: PLAN 2009-27F 49:00

The Commission took up agenda item PLAN 2009-27F, concerning the Reserve at Walnut Grove, Unit 1-C. The discussion centered on the development's compliance with open space requirements, with adjustments having been made to the lotting configuration and open space allocations in order to bring the plan into conformance.

Key speakers in the discussion included Tom Martin and Dick Murphy, who addressed the modifications that had been undertaken to meet the applicable open space standards. The presentation focused on how the revised lotting and open space layout satisfied the requirements under review.

The Commission ultimately approved the plan following the discussion.

Hi-Acres Shopping Center

Agenda Item: PLAN 2009-52F 1:00:17

The Commission took up PLAN 2009-52F, concerning the Hi-Acres Shopping Center, as a discussion item focused on revising building lines to bring the property into compliance with zoning requirements.

Key speakers on this item included Chris Taylor, Tom Martin, and Roger Ladenburger. The discussion centered on the proposed revisions to the site's building lines, which were presented as necessary to meet applicable zoning standards.

A notable element of the discussion was a waiver request for engineer's certification. The basis for the waiver was that no public improvements were planned as part of the project, making the standard certification requirement inapplicable to the scope of work being proposed.

The Commission ultimately approved the item, including the requested waiver for engineer's certification.

Taylor Place (Stinnett Property)

Agenda Item: PLAN 2009-54F 1:15:08

The Commission took up PLAN 2009-54F, concerning the final record plat for the Taylor Place (Stinnett Property). Tom Martin addressed the Commission on this item.

The matter was not advanced for approval at this meeting. The item was postponed due to the absence of two procedural requirements that had not been fulfilled prior to the meeting: the required affidavit had not been submitted, and sign posting had not been completed as required.

As a result of these outstanding requirements, the Commission postponed action on the final record plat. No further substantive discussion or debate on the merits of the plat was recorded at this time.

Wolf Run Industrial Park, Lot 5

Agenda Item: DP 2009-40 1:18:29

The Commission took up discussion of a development plan for Wolf Run Industrial Park, Lot 5, which proposed designating an existing building as an office warehouse project.

Key speakers on this item included Chris Taylor and Mike Ladies.

The item had a procedural history worth noting: the Subdivision Committee had previously recommended postponement of the plan due to documentation issues. However, by the time the item came before the full Commission, staff had reversed course and recommended approval.

The Commission ultimately voted to approve the plan.

*Note: Additional detail on the specific documentation concerns raised by the Subdivision Committee, the nature of the debate among commissioners, and the precise arguments made by Taylor and Ladies is not available in the source materials beyond what is summarized above.*