Planning commission approves Woodgate Subdivision preliminary plat and 50-foot lot-width variance over a resident objection

Richmond City Planning & Zoning Commission on a motion approved the preliminary plat for Woodgate Subdivision and granted a variance to reduce minimum lot width at the street from 60 feet to 50 feet, with staff approval.

The project presenter, Kendall Wise of Vantage Engineering, told commissioners the site covers about 207 acres and the developer proposes 362 single-family lots, an overall density of roughly 1.7 units per acre — well below the maximum allowed under the R‑1B zoning. “The area of the property, the farm itself is 207 acres. We're proposing 362 single family lots,” Wise said, adding that most lots would meet the R‑1B minimum lot area even with the narrower street-front widths.

A resident speaking for the adjacent Old Town Branch Estates neighborhood urged the commission to deny the variance and to defer approval until the city finalizes policy on detention basins and maintenance responsibility. Scott (last name not specified in the transcript), identified as representing Old Town Branch Estates, cited KRS 100.243 and argued the variance could…