Development Hearing June 8, 2017

A Development Plan Hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 8, at 1:30 PM.  The meeting location is the LFUCG Council Chambers.  This sign is posted at the intersection of Walnut Grove and Cayman Lane.  The scope of the hearing is not know at this time.  When additional information is received it will be posted.
Update:  An amendment has been proposed to make changes in the recreational trail system.  The surface would change from hard scape to turf.  The Planning Commission would not normally be the venue for this issue.  It was brought before the Commission as this may impact handicapped users of the trails and to discuss responsibility for maintaining the turf.
Information on the trail system is available from:  https://www.lexingtonky.gov/trails

Public Hearing June 8, 2017

Developers Dream Bill Goes to Senate

The Developers Dream Bill, Mentioned in a previous post (Developers Dream Bill Introduced in  Kentucky State House) has passed the Kentucky House and is going to the Senate for consideration.
If you wish to voice your opposition, you may contact Senator Alice Forgey Kerr.
The number to call to leave messages for members of the legislature is 800-372-7181.
Contact information for other Senators is available at: The Kentucky Legislature Web Site.
 

Developers Dream Bill Introduced in Kentucky State House

Click to download: Developers’ Dream Bill
This isn’t the first time a “developer’s dream bill” has come up in State Legislature – 2 years ago it was squashed as an unconstitutional barrier to equal access to the courts.
Although our LFUCG Council has no say in what goes on at State level, representatives from the Fayette County Neighborhood Council (FCNC) sought LFUCG Council’s support in opposing this terrible bill.
Rightly, a majority of CMs realized the bill would place one more hurdle in front of neighborhood associations and individuals seeking access to the Court of Appeals for review of zoning decisions. Though two CMs expressed surprise that HB 72 seemed to come out of “left field”,  our 12th District CM Kathy Plomin supported CM Jennifer Mossotti’s motion to direct the LFUCG lobbyist, Judy Taylor, to convey Council’s decision to State Legislators. VIce-Mayor Steve Kay, CM Richard Moloney, and others spoke eloquently in support of this decision as well. Thanks to all CMs looking out for their ‘hoods!
To voice your opposition, contact Representative Robert Benvenuti at(859) 226-0312
Mariana

LFUCG Greenspace Survey

From the LFUCG website:  click for LINK

Residents encouraged to provide input on the importance of greenspaces in community-wide survey

Citizen input has been a driving force in helping shape Fayette County’s greenspace since the inception of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Greenspace Commission in 1990. The Commission is seeking the opinions of Fayette County residents regarding the use and importance of greenspaces, such as parks, trails, or scenic byways, through a community-wide survey. This valuable information will identify needs and priorities that will inform the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government in its planning and management of greenspaces.
Click for link:  LFUCG Greenspace Survey on Survey Monkey 
The survey takes just a few minutes to complete and will provide information that will help guide decision making about the future of Fayette County’s greenspace system.
Your opinions are extremely important to the Greenspace Commission, and we value your time and efforts to assist us in this research.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact our research partner, The Matrix Group, at (859) 263-8177. If you would like to participate in the survey but are unable to complete it online, please contact Cindy Deitz, Secretary for the Greenspace Commission at (859) 258-3267.
Thank you, in advance, for your participation!

Greenbrier Resident Kathy Plomin Sworn In

Kathy Plomin Sworn In As 12th District Council

Kathy Plomin Sworn In As 12th District Council


On Wednesday, October 5th of this year, Greenbrier Resident Kathy Plomin was sworn in officially as the12th District Councilmember. With Judge Kathy Stein administering the oath, Kathy placed her hand on the Bible and solemnly promised to faithfully represent our district, while denying she had ever participated in a duel.
Wait, what? Indeed, since the 1800s, Kentucky officials have been sworn in on this condition:
“I being a citizen of this State, have not fought a duel with deadly weapons within this State nor out of it, nor have I sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel with deadly weapons, nor have I acted as second in carrying a challenge, nor aided or assisted any person thus offending, so help me God.”
The duel references, according to Kentucky historian Jim Klotter, were added because too many residents were killing each other. More than 40 public duels were recorded in the early 1800s, and many more were probably fought. Even Kentucky’s favorite son, Henry Clay, fought two duels to satisfy his own honor, belying his nickname of “The Great Compromiser”. In fact, dueling was so common throughout the South, that pistols were used to settle disputes  as ridiculous as a claim that a “Latin word was mispronounced”.  In one of America’s most well-known duels, Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in 1804, thus surely altering the course of American history.
Happily, thanks to a centuries old paragraph in the Kentucky Constitution,  that’s one situation Kathy will never have to face!
Click for: Kathy Plomin Inaugural Address.

Locations Set for Primary Voting

Greenbrier Republicans may vote in the Kentucky Republican Caucus on Saturday, March 5.  The polls will be open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.   The special caucus location is:
Northeast Christian Church (Hamburg), 990 Star Shoot Parkway
Greenbrier Democrats may vote on Tuesday, May 17.  Polls will open at the usual times and the usual location:
Macedonia Christian Church, 4551 Winchester Road.
Under Kentucky law, only registered party members may vote in these primary elections.  Cross over voting is not allowed.
A list of our current local and state representatives is maintained at:
http://www.gb-ra.com/links/representativies/

Bill Requiring Bond for Zoning Appeals is Filed

House Bill 490, sponsored by Representative Jerry Miller, would require posting of a bond by a non-governmental party to seek judicial review of a zoning decision by the Kentucky Court of Appeals.
Under the bill, an individual or neighborhood association would have to prepay a bond before appealing to the Court of Appeals.  If the appeal is unsuccessful, even though the appeal was neither in bad faith nor frivolous, the bond would be forfeited.
The bill has been assigned to the House Local Government Committee, which is chaired by Representative Steve Riggs.  If you wish to comment, please call 1-800-372-7181 and leave a message for “all members of the House Local Government Committee” regarding House Bill 490.

LFUCG Meeting On Zoning Change set for Tuesday, September 22

The Urban County Council has scheduled a public hearing on a request for a zone change in our neighborhood.
This application was previously submitted by North Forty Properties, LLC., for property with an address of 1551 Deer Haven Lane.  The zone change involves a request from an EAR-1 to an EAR-2 zone.
The Urban County Council has decided to hold a public hearing on this request to afford the public an opportunity to comment upon this proposal. The Council’s public hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at 6pm in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, Government Center, 200 East Main Street.  Call Bill Sallee or other member of the Planning staff for more info at 258-3160.
Why is this public hearing important? First, because the developers applied for more density in spite of previously agreed upon mandates of the Expansion Area Master Plan (EAMP); second, because several surrounding neighborhoods were never notified of this request; third; because concerned neighborhoods who wanted  a postponement of this request to study the effects more density would have on them were ignored by the developers; and finally, because the Planning Commission, chaired by Mike Owens acting upon a motion by builder Mike Cravens, also ignored concerned neighbors seeking a postponement of this request.
Both GRI Board member Marcia Stanhope and GB neighbor Susan Enlow attended the meeting of the Planning Commission and were concerned with the attitude of the PC towards neighborhoods. IMO, we may not stop this density zone change request, but we can make our voices heard as a valid constituency of this community. We have every right to fully understand the ramifications of any zone change which may not be in compliance with the EAMP affecting our neighborhood and the neighborhoods around us.
Your Greenbrier Residents, Inc. (GRI) Board needs as many neighbors as possible into attend this public hearing. More details about how you can participate will follow! Thanks! Mariana Moore Marye, Pres.

Proposed Zoning Change Near Greenbrier

This Thursday, July 23, the Planning Commission will hear a request to approve a zoning change for two parcels of land that are part of the old farm which was located on what is now Deer Haven Lane.   This property is actually closer to Walnut Grove than the old farm address suggests.  The 2013 Comprehensive Plan recommends that this property be classified as a mix of Expansion Area Residential Zone 1 (EAR-1) and Conservation.  The proposed reclassification is EAR-2.  Under the current classification, from one to three residences may be constructed on an acre of land.  Under the proposed reclassification, up to six residences may be constructed per acre. The proposed change will have the effect of increasing housing density by a factor of 2 to 6 times.  The changes will also allow the construction of boarding houses, rehabilitation homes, nursing homes, rest homes and assisted living facilities.  The developer proposes to construct 225 homes on one parcel of land and 356 homes on the second parcel, with an average density of 4.77 homes per acre.  This hearing will involve more than 120 acres of land.
While flyers were distributed to the nearest neighbours, thus satisfying the minimum legal requirement of notification, no signs are posted on Walnut Grove Lane, Deer Haven Lane or on the streets connecting to Polo Club Boulevard.
For additional information on EAR-1 (page 256 of 327) and EAR-2 (page 257) consult the  following link:
Zoning Ordinance, Lexington – Fayette County
Drastically increasing density will obviously affect existing neighborhoods in many ways, including Greenbrier.   Residents are urged to send an e-mail to LFUCG Planning Office, seeking a postponement of these requests until we get more information about how this zoning change will impact us.  If you can attend this Thursday afternoon’s meeting, even better. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the LFUCG Government Center on 200 East Main Street at 1:30 PM.
The e-mail for the Planning Commission is:
PlanningMailbox@lexingtonky.gov
Click for: the Planning Commission Meeting Agenda.
 

Fayette County Public Schools To Redraw Boundries

As Fayette County Public Schools faces the difficult task of redrawing school attendance boundaries in advance of opening three new schools, district leaders need to start the work by listening. This is the first time in more than a decade that FCPS has considered such widespread changes to the attendance zones.
A volunteer committee of parents, employees and community members has met three times to begin looking at relevant data.  Before they dig into the work of considering maps, FCPS will hold listening sessions to gather input from the community.  The next session is scheduled for:

  • 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday July 10 at Lafayette High School, 401 Reed Lane
  • 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 24 at FCPS Warehouse Facility, 1126 Russel Cave Road.

Future meetings are scheduled for November 20 and December 8. Continue reading