Board of Adjustment approves several variances, denies others; splits on short-term rental requests

The Lexington Board of Adjustment met in its August session and took action on a series of variances, conditional-use modifications and short-term rental (STR) requests, approving some applications and denying others after staff presentations and public comment.

Several development and renovation requests were approved after brief hearings. The board unanimously or by voice vote (individual roll calls were not read into the record) granted a front-yard setback variance for Community Ventures (PLNBOA 25-88) and approved an amendment to a conditional use permit for the Kentucky Training Center, a laundry/food-service operation for backstretch workers (PLNBOA 25-92). The board also approved a one-foot height variance for a homeowner’s replacement garage after hearing the project team say roof truss installation made the structure nominally taller than the house (PLNBOA 25-89, Distinctive Design Remodeling). Another homeowner request to adjust driveway configuration was approved after the applicant and traffic engineering resolved dimensions and agreed to conditions (PLNBOA 25-80, Christina Howard).

A highly contested billboard variance at 1200 Winchester Road (PLNBOA 25-11) produced split rulings: staff recommended approval of a 5-foot height variance (from 40 feet to 45 feet) but disapproved a requested reduction of the required setback from a residential zone (from 150 feet to 70 feet). The board voted to approve the height variance under conditions proposed by staff and separately voted to disapprove the setback variance.

On other matters, the board denied variances where staff and neighbors raised safety or character concerns. A corner-lot addition proposal at 234 Glendover Road (PLNBOA 25-94) was denied in part because staff said similar lots maintained standard front-yard setbacks and adding the requested structure could impede fire access. A proposal that would have left a chimney and porch within roughly 2 feet of a lot line (PLNBOA 25-95, Hart Road) was denied after staff said a modest redesign could avoid the need for variance and that the tighter…