Public hearing held on proposed Allendale Drive access for Gray Collegiate Academy as neighbors oppose change

Lexington County Council opened a public hearing Oct. 28 on zoning map amendment M25-01, a request from Gray Collegiate Academy to change the street classification of a portion of Allendale Drive from R L‑4 (residential local 4) to a local road so the school can build a privately maintained access to its campus.

The amendment, presented to council by Robbie Derrick, Lexington County community development director, would allow the school to construct an extension tying a new road into an existing county right of way. Derrick said the proposed roadway would be privately maintained by Gray Collegiate and built to county standards if the map amendment and subsequent approvals move forward.

Supporters, including Dr. Brian Newsome, principal of Gray Collegiate Academy, and Kevin Heisey, the school's athletic director, told council the access is intended for exit‑only traffic after athletic events and to provide an emergency access route. "This is exit traffic only just to get — our walkers will have a separate place to walk out... If we had an emergency, which we've had before, we've had no way for an ambulance to get in," Newsome said. He said the school will pay to build and maintain the road and that the access would not be used for daily arrival traffic.

Parents, staff and coaches who spoke in favor echoed safety concerns. "We saved the student's life because of those measures," said Casey Hallman, an assistant principal and parent, referring to the county's emergency response; Coach James Adams and athletic staff described past incidents where fieldside medical response would have been hindered by limited access.

Opponents — several Allendale Drive residents who addressed the council during the hearing — said the change would harm the neighborhood's residential character, increase noise and traffic and reduce safety for children and pets. Resident David Boykin, who lives at 143 Allendale Drive, said neighbors collected signatures opposing the reclassification and described repeated problems with event parking and driveway blockage. "Turning our road... for school traffic would completely change the character and safety of our neighborhood," Boykin said. The clerk put an 18‑signature petition into the public record.

Others raised concerns about late‑night noise from stadium announcements and amplified sound, on‑street parking spilling into yards, and home value impacts. Zoe Stern, a resident who lives two houses up from Allendale, said she can already hear school noise from her bedroom and worries increased traffic would worsen quality of life.

Robbie Derrick and proponents answered technical questions from council members during the hearing: the county right of way currently dead‑ends and the school would construct the additional roadway to tie into the county segment; the roadbed through part of the property was described as an old farm track; staff said design standards have been discussed with public safety and public works and the road must meet county standards.

The public hearing drew multiple speakers on both sides; council did not take a final vote on the amendment at the Oct. 28 meeting. Derrick told council the application was initiated by county council, that the amendment requires further steps including a planning commission review and two additional readings before any final action, and that proponents hope construction could begin during the school winter break if approvals proceed.

Council will consider the zoning map amendment in future readings. The County Clerk has made the petition and public comments part of the official record.