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Committee advances Gainsway Mall plan while reserving judgment on pedestrian‑access waiver
Summary
Members recommended approval of the Gainsway Mall Shopping Center development plan with standard sign‑offs but left two requested waivers — vehicle use area in the front yard and direct pedestrian access to the right of way — to be considered at the public hearing after staff follow‑up on ADA access concerns.
The Lexington Planning Division committee recommended approval of development plan MTA DP 2552 for the Gainsway Mall Shopping Center (1163–1165 Center Parkway) while deferring its decision on two waivers that would alter pedestrian access and front‑yard vehicular layout.
Staff reported two waiver requests from the applicant: (1) a waiver of zoning ordinance Article 16.6(a)(1) to permit a vehicular use area (drive aisle) in the front yard on a corner lot, and (2) a waiver of Article 16.6(a)(3) to allow the property to connect to an existing sidewalk that lies outside the parcel instead of providing direct pedestrian access on site as the ordinance requires. The technical committee flagged ADA and grade concerns raised by the bike and pedestrian coordinator and asked for further detail before the public hearing.
Jihad Halani of Vision Engineering, representing the applicant, explained the proposed new multi‑tenant retail building and said the site has a significant elevation change — he estimated approximately 14 feet — between Center Parkway and the proposed building, which influenced the building orientation and pedestrian connection choices. Halani said the applicant intends reciprocal parking and access easements on the final plat and that they did not expect to impact the sycamore trees shown adjacent to the site.
Scott Thompson, the city’s bike and pedestrian coordinator, told the committee the site is adjacent to a very busy transit route (the No. 3 route) and to schools and refugee/assisted housing, which increases pedestrian demand. Thompson said the sidewalk on Appian Way is at the same grade as the roadway and that, while that design meets the narrow definition of ADA in the public right‑of‑way, it “is still not easy to navigate with a wheelchair.” He urged the committee to require an ADA‑compliant ramp connection from the proposed property up to Center Parkway rather than rely on an off‑site sidewalk crossing other lots.
Staff and the applicant agreed on several technical clarifications: fire staff requested a 16‑foot aisle for the fire drive (the applicant committed to a 16‑foot width), and engineering asked for clarified entrance dimensions and pavement/turning geometry. Division of water and engineering requested grading and stormwater details, including where stormwater would tie into the Richmond Road culvert and the final onsite storm sewer tie‑in.
The committee moved to recommend approval of the plan with the typical engineering, traffic, forestry and other sign‑offs and requested that staff address the waiver requests and bike/ped accessibility in the staff report at the public hearing. One member said, based on current information, they would grant the VUA waiver but not the direct pedestrian access waiver; the committee did not adopt a formal position on the waivers and left them for the hearing.
What’s next: The plan proceeds to the public hearing with staff directions to evaluate ADA‑compliant access options and to finalize technical sign‑offs (grading, stormwater, fire access). Any waiver approvals will be decided at the hearing after staff presents written findings.
