Planning Commission approves waiver to add 40 parking spaces at Jericho Inc. office site

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Planning Commission on Aug. 14 approved a waiver to allow a 40-space expansion of an existing parking lot at the Jericho Inc. Professional Office Project (PLNMJDP 2533), permitting additional vehicular use area in the front yard of a corner lot.

Staff said the office building and an existing, legally nonconforming parking lot predate a change to the zoning ordinance that now restricts vehicular use areas (VUA) in front yards on corner lots. The applicant requested the waiver after staff raised the issue at the July 10 meeting. Staff recommended approval, saying the expansion would not compromise public health, safety or welfare, that the waiver is the minimum relief necessary, and that strict application of the rule would create unnecessary hardship on the applicant. Staff also conditioned approval on landscape buffering meeting Article 18-3 A2 of the Zoning Ordinance.

The applicant, Daniel Raynor of Thorbread representing Valvoline, told commissioners the chosen location minimizes grading, protects natural drainage patterns and avoids placing additional impervious surface next to a lake and floodplain. Raynor said alternative sites would require more paving, place the lot closer to the lake and likely increase runoff risks. Raynor also confirmed the applicant will meet required landscape buffering for the expanded vehicular use area.

Commissioner Wilson moved to approve the plan and waiver "for the reasons provided by staff;" the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The commission also approved the development plan amendment that incorporates the waiver and replacement conditions.

Staff noted required additional sign-offs if the plan proceeds: engineering, traffic engineering, urban forestry/environmental quality, bike/ped, green space, waste management and the U.S. Postal Service. The waiver approval includes the condition that landscape buffering for the new vehicular use area must meet Article 18-3 A2 of the Zoning Ordinance.

The commission did not record individual roll-call votes in the public transcript beyond announcing the motions carried unanimously.

The project site is a roughly 7.85-acre lot with an existing office building and parking, adjacent to a lake and floodplain; the new 40-space area would be south of the building, nearer Yorkshire Boulevard. Staff and the applicant said topography and existing development limit alternate locations for parking.

The commission closed the item with no public speakers and no further conditions beyond those noted by staff.