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).