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Residents push commission to retain 'Garden Neighborhood' designation for Newcomb Oil tract in comp plan revisions
Summary
Public commenters urged the planning commission to keep a large tract owned by Newcomb Oil on the future land-use map designated as Garden Neighborhood rather than Village Center; petitioners delivered more than 300 names and explain traffic, preservation, and tourism concerns.
Residents and civic-group members urged the Danville City Planning and Zoning Commission to retain a Garden Neighborhood designation in the proposed future land-use map (FLUM) for a large Newcomb Oil property north of town, saying a Village Center designation would allow unwanted commercial development at a sensitive entry corridor.
Sarah Volkamp, speaking as a member of the Smart Growth Board, told the commission the group and other residents had collected petitions opposing commercial development on the tract bounded by Highway 34 and Old Lexington Road. "The very first thing I wanna say is how much I appreciate all that you all have the way you've handled these revisions on the comp plan," Volkamp said. She said residents oppose commercial development because the state Transportation Cabinet would require access on Old Lexington Road, which would threaten the adjacent established neighborhood, and because the north-side approach to Danville is an important tourism gateway.
Volkamp said petitioners had gathered "over 300 names already." Bunny Scratch Field, who identified herself as a Lexington Avenue resident, presented a separate petition and explained neighborhood concerns about noise, lighting, water-management, and traffic, saying the area already has multiple nearby commercial centers and a grocery store.
Commissioners and staff described the status of the comp plan work: Commissioner Collier and another commissioner said a subcommittee is drafting the plan and revisions to the proposed FLUM are posted on the planning website. "We're making progress... we're on track at at least at this point to have something in June or July," a commissioner said when reporting on the subcommittee's schedule. Chair and staff cautioned that discussion of specific properties may require notice if votes are to be taken later.
No formal vote on the comp plan or FLUM occurred at the meeting; commissioners received public comment and discussed next steps for the plan-drafting subcommittee.
