Lexington’s Board of Adjustment on Nov. 10 reviewed eight short‑term rental (STR) applications and took mixed action: the board approved multiple conditional use permits, denied several where staff cited compliance problems, and continued one application to allow applicants to fill operational gaps.

Staff opened the STR portion of the agenda with a summary of the city’s concentration rules, noting the two triggers the ordinance uses: an automatic disapproval if there is another licensed STR within 600 feet unless relief applies, and a separate 2% threshold of STRs within a 1,000‑foot buffer. Dalton Belcher, planning staff, said most cases on the agenda were not close to the 2% concentration threshold but two applications raised the 600‑foot buffer question.

The board approved the following STRs, each subject to the standard four conditions listed in staff reports (occupancy, local contact, compliance with city code and noise/parking provisions) unless noted:

- PLNBOA25‑110 (156 Greenwood Lane): Bridal Everman — approved on a motion; applicant agreed to staff conditions.

- PLNBOA25‑112 (2008 Oleander Drive): Janelle Blessing — approved with staff‑recommended lesser occupancy (8 occupants); Blessing read a personal statement describing family hardship and said the permit would help her retain the home after her husband’s death.

- PLNBOA25‑113 (131 North Broadway Park): Pete Jackson House LLC — approved; staff noted an existing STR on the boundary of the 600‑foot buffer that factored into analysis.

- PLNBOA25‑115 (1717 Liberty Road): Flow State Properties (Taylor Wood) — approved; applicant said the property provides on‑site parking and she agreed to staff conditions.

The board disapproved two applications where staff cited compliance histories or other neighborhood impacts and where public opposition was strong:

- PLNBOA25‑108 (808 Gunpowder Drive): Mint Pillow Property Management LLC — staff recommended disapproval based on a documented history of citations and outstanding enforcement actions at other properties linked to the same owner. The applicant acknowledged prior listings and said she had taken down listings and was working toward compliance. The board followed staff’s recommendation and disapproved the application.

- PLNBOA25‑109 (3112 Glenwood Drive): Glenwood Retreat LLC — staff recommended disapproval citing an existing STR within 600 feet and the applicant’s compliance history across several properties. Multiple neighbors testified in opposition, citing privacy, property‑maintenance and safety concerns; the board voted to disapprove.

The board approved one STR application after a close vote:

- PLNBOA25‑106 (3996 Barnard Drive): M3 Family Investment LLC — after public comment from a neighborhood petition opposing the use and multiple speakers citing traffic and safety concerns in a single‑ingress neighborhood, the board approved the conditional use permit on a 4‑3 vote. The applicant said she had stopped listings when notified and would be the local emergency contact.

One application was continued:

- PLNBOA25‑107 (2111 Stonewood Lane): Tita Yee (represented by Samantha Yee) — board members were uncomfortable with gaps in the application (no named local emergency contact and incomplete operational details about noise mitigation). The board continued the hearing to the Nov. 10, 2025 session to allow the applicant to work with staff to provide a local emergency contact and clarify the noise‑mitigation measures; motion to continue was made by Brandon Gross and seconded by Harry Clark.

Board members and staff repeatedly emphasized that the city’s enforcement record and any outstanding Division of Revenue citations weighed heavily in staff recommendations. "The Division of Revenue has issued citations and there are outstanding compliance actions on multiple properties tied to the same owner," Belcher said regarding the properties at Gunpowder and a related listing.

Public comment was robust in several cases. Dozens of neighbors presented petitions and made oral statements opposing STRs in single‑family neighborhoods, citing traffic, parking, child safety, loss of neighborhood stability and previous unpermitted operations.

The board also noted procedural constraints: public sentiment and neighborhood petitions, while considered, do not by themselves meet the ordinance criteria for disapproval unless they connect to the zoning factors the board is directed to evaluate. The board adjourned after the STR docket; its next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10, 2025.

Votes at a glance

- PLNBOA25‑107 (2111 Stonewood Lane) — continued to Nov. 10, 2025 (motion: Brandon Gross; second: Harry Clark).
- PLNBOA25‑110 (156 Greenwood Lane) — approved (motion: Clark; second: recorded; staff recommended approval).
- PLNBOA25‑112 (2008 Oleander Drive) — approved with lesser occupancy (8) (motion: Walker; second: Boggess).
- PLNBOA25‑113 (131 North Broadway Park) — approved (motion: board motion; second recorded; staff recommended approval noting buffer relief applied).
- PLNBOA25‑115 (1717 Liberty Road) — approved (motion: Brandon Gross; second: Chad Walker).
- PLNBOA25‑106 (3996 Barnard Drive) — approved (motion recorded; passed 4–3; conditions per staff).
- PLNBOA25‑108 (808 Gunpowder Drive) — disapproved (motion: Linda Tucker; second: James Persley; staff recommended disapproval citing compliance history).
- PLNBOA25‑109 (3112 Glenwood Drive) — disapproved (motion: Harry Clark; second: Linda Tucker; staff recommended disapproval citing proximity and compliance history).