The Urban County Planning Commission voted to approve PLN MJDP 25-7 (Meadowcrest, Cowgill Partners LP), a large amended final development plan for property along Winchester Road and Polo Club Boulevard, and granted a waiver to reduce lane widths on Paramount Drive to create a traffic‑calmed cross section.

Staff presented the plan as a multi‑lot, mixed‑use project in the expansion area, describing an overall proposal of 274 dwelling units across multiple buildings, 8,827,154 square feet of principal uses (primarily professional office and parking structures) and 207,915 square feet of supportive uses (hotel, banks, restaurants, residential mixed use). Lot 17 — proposed for a UK medical campus — totals about 41.35 acres; the remaining 35.04 acres are slated for the principal and supportive uses identified.

Why it matters: Meadowcrest covers a large portion of the city’s expansion area and includes road connections (including an eventual Tunnel Road under I‑75), greenway corridors and substantial mixed‑use development that will shape future traffic patterns, open‑space connectivity and infrastructure needs.

Staff recommended approval of the plan and of a requested waiver to Article 6‑8(a) of the land subdivision regulations to allow an alternate street cross section along Paramount Drive. The waiver would reduce required lane widths from 15 feet to 11 feet with parallel on‑street parking and limited reverse‑angle (back‑in) spaces near a proposed clubhouse; staff said the design provides traffic calming and aligns with forthcoming complete‑streets guidance.

Applicant representative Brandon Gross described the road tapering and said the reduced lane width and on‑street parking are intended to slow traffic as the roadway moves from commercial to residential and greenway areas. Gross said the development team reduced the amount of reverse‑angle parking to three spaces and moved those spaces out of a curve after traffic engineering raised safety concerns: "We reduced that down to 3. Took it out of the curve and traffic engineering believes that it can function safely," he said.

Commissioners questioned back‑in parking and safety; traffic engineering staff confirmed back‑in parking is allowed under the ordinance but noted pull‑in parking (backing into the street) would be prohibited and sight distance must be maintained. Dave Joliet, a traffic engineer on the record, said the three back‑in spaces in a tangent section were acceptable when shifted away from the curve.

On expansion area compliance, staff found the plan met the EAMP’s future land‑use and infrastructure elements and met the master plan’s open‑space and greenway expectations; staff added a recommendation to resolve noted exaction and lighting items and to confirm open‑space accounting with the University of Kentucky. The applicant told the commission they could meet the 25 percent open‑space target without counting Lot 17.

Commission action and conditions: Commissioner Wilson moved to approve PLN MJDP 25‑7 with staff conditions and to change two staff notes (items 18 and 19) from "discussed" to "resolved." Nickel seconded; the motion passed. Wilson also moved to approve the waiver to Article 6‑8(a); Nickel seconded and the waiver passed. Finally, the commission found the project in compliance with the EAMP as presented and voted to approve the compliance finding.

Next steps: Staff will verify the revised lighting plan, record required exactions and finalize resolution of the Lot‑17 open‑space accounting with the university before certification. The development team must complete technical sign‑offs and any required agreements between lots covering light trespass as noted in staff conditions.