Commission approves Turner property plan preserving a tree‑lined farm road and allowing townhouse access easements

The Lexington City Planning Commission voted to approve the development plan and requested waivers for the GDK Farm / Turner property, a multi‑parcel subdivision along Tates Creek Road that connects into adjoining parcels in Jessamine County.

Planning staff described two waivers the applicant requested: (1) a waiver of Article 6‑4 c of the land subdivision regulations to permit townhouses to rely on access easements rather than individual lot frontage on a public street; and (2) a waiver of Exhibit 6‑3 to allow an alternate residential collector street cross‑section that preserves an existing tree‑lined farm road as a pedestrian amenity between separated drive aisles. Chris Chaney summarized staff findings that the waivers would not adversely affect public health and safety and cited exceptional hardship owing to existing topography and drainage constraints.

Nathan Billings, attorney for the developer, and other members of the project team said the plan balances housing types and connectivity across three contiguous parcels, two of which lie in Jessamine County. Billings said the design retains the tree‑lined farm road as a linear park and places townhouses so that the front entries face a landscaped amenity rather than a busy arterial. "One of the key things that Mr. Turner wants to do is to keep that farm road and the tree lined farm road as his vision for the sanctuary," Billings said, showing renderings and cross‑sections.

Commissioners asked about sewer timing, stormwater detention, and neighborhood interfaces. Staff noted the project received the necessary zone change earlier (from A‑R to R‑3), and the developers said the design provides structured parking and buffered connections to adjacent neighborhoods. The applicant said the project crosses the county line by design and that Jessamine County’s planning commission previously approved its portion in February.

The commission approved the development plan and the two waivers; the motions passed with nine affirmative votes (one commissioner absent). Commissioners attached three additional conditions addressing plan clarifications, required sign‑offs and timing of public utilities capacity confirmations.

Why it matters: the project creates a mix of single‑family lots and townhouses, preserves a prominent tree‑lined farm entrance as a linear park amenity, and illustrates cross‑jurisdiction coordination when development spans county boundaries. The approved waivers will allow townhouse lots to rely on shared access easements rather than frontage on Tate’s Creek Road, and the alternate cross‑section preserves the farm road character but requires widened travel lanes to meet fire access standards.

Speakers

- Chris Chaney — Planning staff (waiver and findings) - Nathan Billings — Attorney, representing Turner (applicant representative) - Developer representatives (Lincoln Properties) and project civil engineer Andrew Walls answered technical questions

Authorities

- regulation: "Article 6-4 C" (land subdivision regulations; frontage and access requirements) — referenced_by: ["topicintro","discussion"] - regulation: "Exhibit 6-3" (standard cross sections in land subdivision regulations) — referenced_by: ["discussion"] - regulation: "Article 1-5 a" (waiver findings: exceptional hardship) — referenced_by: ["discussion"]

Actions

- {"kind":"motion","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"PLN MJDP 20-51","project_slug":"gdk-turner"},"motion":"Approve development plan PLN MJDP 20-51 (GDK Farm / Turner property) with revised conditions","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","outcome":"approved","notes":"Approval included 25 revised conditions; development crosses into Jessamine County and requires utility coordination."} - {"kind":"waiver","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"PLN MJDP 20-51"},"motion":"Approve waivers to allow townhouse lots to use access easements (Article 6-4 C) and to permit an alternate residential collector cross-section (Exhibit 6-3) to preserve the tree-lined farm road","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","outcome":"approved","notes":"Approval contingent on widened pavement lanes (20 feet per lane between Tates Creek Road and Tikes Pass) and three additional conditions addressing timing and utility capacity."}

Clarifying details

- category: "unit_count" detail: "Plan proposes 9 single-family lots and 20 townhomes" value:20 units approximate:false source_speaker:"Chris Chaney" - category: "zone_change" detail: "Property underwent a zone change from A-R to R-3 in Dec 2023" value:"A-R to R-3" approximate:false source_speaker:"Chris Chaney" - category: "cross_county" detail: "Project crosses the Fayette–Jessamine county line; developers obtained Jessamine approval for its portion in February" source_speaker:"Nathan Billings"

Proper_names

[{"name":"GDK Farm LLC / Turner property","type":"location"},{"name":"Tates Creek Road","type":"location"},{"name":"Lincoln Properties","type":"business"}]

Provenance

{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"t-4084.25","local_start":0,"local_end":1100,"evidence_excerpt":"Our next plan, P. L. N. M. J. D. P. 20 five-one, GDK Farm, LLC Turner property... This is located at 5447 Tates Creek Road, and the purpose of this plan is to to develop 9 single family residential lots and 20 townhomes...","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"t-5907.41","local_start":0,"local_end":220,"evidence_excerpt":"All right. That also carries with 9 in the affirmative, mister Jonathan Davis being not present. Thank you, Inns.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}

sections":{"lede":"The commission approved the Turner property development plan and two waivers that let townhouses use access easements and preserve a tree‑lined farm road as a pedestrian linear park connecting to adjacent Jessamine County parcels.","nut_graf":"Planning staff recommended the waivers because existing topography, drainage and extensive utility easements make standard frontage and cross‑section requirements impractical; staff found the requests consistent with waiver standards if plan clarifications and utility capacity timing are addressed.","ending":"Approvals carry conditions: widened travel lanes, clarified timing for sanitary sewer improvements and additional plan cleanups; the developer must coordinate final utility and plat recording steps with staff before certification."}