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, 2^nd 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.

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.