Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parking Permits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council schedules Forest Avenue residential parking permit resolution after neighbors clash with Camel Club over street parking
Summary
Councilmember Legree moved to place a resolution establishing a Forest Avenue Residential Parking Permit Program on the Aug. 28 docket; the motion passed with one recusal. The item grew out of repeated neighborhood complaints that patrons and employees of a new private club were occupying on-street spaces and blocking driveways.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted on Aug. 19 to place a resolution establishing a Forest Avenue Residential Parking Permit Program on the Aug. 28 council docket after multiple residents described ongoing parking conflicts with a nearby private club.
Councilmember Josiah Legree moved to place the resolution on the Aug. 28 docket; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Curtis and approved by the council. Councilmember Boone announced a recusal for conflict of interest before the vote; the motion passed with one recusal.
Residents from the Belcourt/Forest Avenue block told the council the issue has persisted since the site’s construction. Several speakers said club members, guests and employees routinely occupy the 10 legal parking spaces on the block, block driveways and sometimes park in illegal zones or on sidewalks.
"The block, according to LexPark, has 10 spaces… There are many evenings and weekends that I can count 14 cars, all camel members and camel employees and I don't know who all, and they are bumper to bumper," said Marcy Deaton, who identified herself as a Forest Avenue resident. She said the club has off‑site lots and arrangements, but patrons continue to park on the street.
Other residents described driveways left blocked and slow police response to nonemergency parking complaints. "I had to take an Uber to the airport last week because somebody was blocking my car," 1 resident said, a detail echoed by multiple speakers.
Business owner Brian Babbage, who operates a nearby business, said his establishment was targeted during the initial parking counts in a way he considers manipulative: he told the council he has evidence of neighborhood messages asking residents to park in study areas to influenceLexPark counts.
Neighborhood leaders and LexPark recommended a residential permit program for the affected block; Councilmember Legree said he placed the resolution on the Aug. 28 docket to allow council consideration after the neighborhood study and related communication.
Councilmember Legree moved the resolution to the Aug. 28 docket; Councilmember Curtis seconded. The motion passed and will appear on the Aug. 28 agenda for council consideration. Councilmember Boone announced a recusal for conflict of interest at the Aug. 19 vote.
