Fayette County commissioners deny two rezoning requests, adopt impact-fee project update and approve $625,822 SR 279 design task order

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 22 denied two proposed commercial rezonings, approved a conditional parcel consolidation rezoning, chose to update the fire-services project list in its Impact Fee Ordinance and authorized design work for a State Route 279 roadway project.

The Board voted 4-1 to deny Petition No. 1339-24, a request from Thomas Crossroads, LLC (agent Richard Lindsey) to rezone 5.102 acres from R-70 to C-H (Highway Commercial) to relocate a septic drain field and allow a small retail center; Commissioner Eric K. Maxwell voted in opposition. Planning staff had recommended denial based on the county's Future Land Use Map while the Planning Commission recommended conditional approval. Lindsey told the Board the parcel had served commercial uses for decades and said leaving it residential would be "a total taking of the value of the property." Opponents raised concerns about traffic, noise and impacts to the nearby neighborhood.

The Board also denied Petition No. 1340-24, an application by Tommy O. Davis (agent Darrell Baker) to rezone 4.03 acres from A-R to C-C (Community Commercial) for a convenience store with fuel sales; that motion passed 5-0. Planning staff and the Planning Commission recommended denial, citing the Future Land Use Map designation of Rural Residential-2 (one unit per two acres). Several residents spoke in opposition citing traffic, lighting…