[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6668127,"mediaKeyId","2241261-5b7a4e26a73281d4d489e669d019d7a3","parentId",2241261,"title","Planning commission approves rezoning for Town Branch Park offices near Gatton Park with conditional use limits","audioSeconds",1741,"startMs",943855,"endMs",2685000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241261-5b7a4e26a73281d4d489e669d019d7a3&start=943&end=2685","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241261-5b7a4e26a73281d4d489e669d019d7a3/thumbnail_943855.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668127/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Planning-commission-approves-rezoning-for-Town-Branch-Park-offices-near-Gatton-Park-with-conditional-use-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668127-de3e3329da80ddd007c411b005c5b664/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448299&Signature=jdgaUTldHZzJI1e75gDl3RJv565jWdL93J8B1re3ccumgvO7L6seays5ktn7J4Q~MR~V3dzJ36B4sDumDNZSNriP7UGdKnaHoQar2xz0Jl2SBa5hNFLm4S~w0Z0OUYTvIr8Qwlp2-Zchw6D4wNj76YY1DAnt4ohzaAuVmw6davsKfZzrY5gHhDLgZ0BWvn~Bs6JE9FzEgmUMSgOBjYpOCfnxi4-SJj9tyUgkyHKCE1SfvBaGFc7qmy8VeqD4-looA4vJ2oPolcbaJOxhAj1WcfRAT29-K~TzE8EA8xvRX4ic8eGEPqd5MgxZ5XJ8LqwBm7jvdtnT4HTN~bvlsRo~bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Lexington City Planning Commission zoning committee unanimously approved Feb. 6 a rezoning request by Town Branch Park Inc. to convert two downtown parcels — 724 West High Street and 3030‑4 Madison Place — from R‑2 (mixed low‑density residential) to Lexington Center business B2B to house administrative and operational offices that will serve Gatton Park.

James Mills of planning staff presented the case and said staff supports the place-type (downtown) and development type (high‑density nonresidential), calling the proposal “an adaptive reuse and preservation of a historic structure” that will create a complementary mix of uses near the park. “With all that, staff is recommending approval,” Mills said.

The application proposes no exterior changes to the two existing buildings. One of the structures is historic (built in 1900) and the other currently contains short‑term rentals; the applicant intends to retain a residential component in the historic building for occasional stays tied to park programming. The applicant’s representative, identified in the hearing as Mr. Nicholson, said the park organization expects a small office staff — “at max between the two buildings, we would have basically 6 to 8 employees, kind of total” — and described plans to renovate interiors for office use while maintaining the site's historic character.

The neighborhood engaged with the applicant on Dec. 18 and provided a letter of support but asked for a highly constrained conditional‑zoning list limited to office and residential uses. Staff reviewed the applicant’s requested conditional restrictions, removed three items that conflicted with federal law or standard practice, and recommended approval with conditions and approval of related variances for screening and vehicular‑use areas because existing brick walls, fences and trees provide on‑site screening.

Commissioner Mickler moved to approve staff recommendations with an additional removal of kindergartens, nursery schools/childcare centers, schools and medical clinics from the allowable conditional uses; Commissioner Jonathan Davis seconded the motion and the committee voted unanimously to approve the rezoning. The committee then voted unanimously to approve the variances needed because the site will move from an R‑2 to a B2B zone.

Committee members and staff discussed the balance between protecting the neighborhood’s character and preserving future economic viability of the parcels. Staff noted that several uses the neighborhood seeks to restrict would in practice be infeasible given the H‑1 historic overlay and the site’s configuration, but acknowledged the commission could tighten or loosen the conditional list. The applicant and neighborhood agreed the parties would reconvene to review any post‑staff edits to the conditional list before the item proceeds further.

Votes at a glance

• PON‑MAR‑25‑2 (Town Branch Park Inc.): Rezoning 724 W High St and 3030‑4 Madison Pl from R‑2 to B2B for adaptive reuse as office and support uses for Gatton Park — Mover: Mickler; Second: Jonathan Davis; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).

• Variances for screening and vehicular use areas associated with PON‑MAR‑25‑2 — Mover: Mickler; Second: Jonathan Davis; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lexington - Planning Commission Zoning Items Subcommittee - Feb 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The zoning committee approved rezoning two downtown properties to B2B for adaptive reuse as offices supporting Town Branch Park and approved related variances; commissioners added conditions excluding daycare, schools and medical clinics from conditional zoning allowances at neighborhood request.","taxTitle","Lexington City, Fayette County, Kentucky","taxId",5707,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668130,"Zoning committee postpones D & J Realty rezoning request for RV storage at 125 Canebrake",811,94895,906000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241261-5b7a4e26a73281d4d489e669d019d7a3&start=94&end=906","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241261-5b7a4e26a73281d4d489e669d019d7a3/thumbnail_94895.jpg","/articles/6668130/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Zoning-committee-postpones-D-J-Realty-rezoning-request-for-RV-storage-at-125-Canebrake","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668130-5ac96f6e22e017b40182d9733e9db1af/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448299&Signature=WAWT6ibXtHZ~3OCUpja6so7nJ6Wl8n8ktwFnJwo~PDs3ATN2OY9utEZHl00tm8Td9f2fJkBLvBVlclrYhflOsodAp3lEvZws3K5XKpGLqWSRZhynZKYeIQnXTVD-ZrGYdEWqYzRtArVO2G00r4-5NWM64WB-y7wK-SHyKqLlnjOje4wsaAzihJTqsuETzKFJHz1XhqUshHsLHA-WlapseaZ5u2lsld7VdwxzWEReGbzSL0AaYMLIkdWBPVCg1R-m5sntXQrTpal7MY-8r5A0vnFniCgXm3giPNbQZCzUOjJM7M9YV0QJ-MgJDU3WTIGBcE3ai9oqu1iExaSrRBbayg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lexington City Planning Commission zoning committee voted unanimously Feb. 6 to postpone consideration of a rezoning request from D and J Realty LLC to convert a small parcel at 125 Canebrake from B5P (interchange service business) to I‑1 (light industrial).

Planning staff member Daniel Crim said the application seeks an industrial designation to allow indoor storage of recreational vehicles and campers, with a single building, vehicle circulation area and an on‑site pump station for RV sewage. “So overall, we’re recommending a…postponement acknowledging that the master plan does call for light industrial in this area,” Crim said, citing missing materials the committee needs to evaluate the request.

The postponement matters because the parcel lies inside the Blue Sky Rural Activity Center expansion area and the city’s urban service boundary, where the comprehensive plan pencils in light‑industrial and flexible “flex space” uses near the interstate. Staff told the committee, however, that the application lacks detail on how it will meet ordinance requirements for a pedestrian connection from the public right of way to the structure and on how site parking and vehicular loading will be configured to meet Article 16 standards.

Applicant David Samakar, who identified himself as the architect, owner, developer and proposed tenant, told the committee the proposed facility responds to a countywide lack of indoor storage and dumping options for large RVs and motorhomes and that the site is intended to be fenced and secure. “There’s not a whole lot of things that I don’t think that we haven’t already complied with with this revised submittal,” Samakar said. He asked the committee to consider waivers for pedestrian access to the fenced facility and for conventional passenger parking because the site’s circulation is designed for large vehicles.

Staff and the subdivision committee flagged several items for follow up, including a fuller letter of justification tying the rezoning request to master plan goals, schematic pedestrian connections from Canebrake to the site, and confirmation that paved loading/vehicular areas meet code. Chris Chaney of planning staff said the development plan in the hearing packet had been updated after the subdivision committee met earlier the same day and that revised staff conditions would be provided before the full commission review.

Committee discussion was limited and no public speakers spoke on the item. A motion to postpone consideration of PLN‑MAR‑25‑1 carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance

• PLN‑MAR‑25‑1 (D and J Realty LLC): Motion to postpone consideration of rezoning from B5P to I‑1 for 125 Canebrake — Mover: Forrester; Second: Wilson; Outcome: Postponed (unanimous).","Planning staff recommended postponing a request to rezone a small, undeveloped Canebrake parcel from B5P to I1 for indoor recreational-vehicle storage; the committee voted unanimously to postpone pending more information on pedestrian connections, parking/loading and a fuller letter of justification.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning commission approves rezoning for Town Branch Park offices near Gatton Park with conditional use limits

Zoning committee postpones D & J Realty rezoning request for RV storage at 125 Canebrake