The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Planning Commission signed off on several commercial and residential development plans Wednesday, advancing projects from Southland Drive to East High Street while putting the brakes on a far larger proposal near Georgetown Road amid environmental and design concerns.
The most consequential action came late in the meeting, when commissioners voted to postpone a sweeping revision of the Citation Center / Belmont Farm development at Georgetown Road, citing unresolved questions about wetlands, stormwater management, pedestrian connectivity and the long-term feasibility of a proposed 12-story hotel.
Southland Drive shopping center split into four lots
Commissioners approved a final record plat dividing the Deerfield Shopping Center — also known locally as the former Collins Bowling Alley site — along Southland Drive into four separate lots.
Planning staff said the subdivision is intended to give the family owners flexibility to sell individual buildings, which are currently under long-term ground leases. Approval was conditioned on adding reciprocal access and parking notes, correcting plan graphics, and clarifying sanitary sewer easements.
No public opposition was raised, and the plat passed unanimously.
57-lot subdivision moves forward near Price Road
A preliminary subdivision plan creating 57 single-family lots off Price Road also won approval, despite a long list of technical conditions still to be addressed.
The proposal includes open space, a detention basin and new streets connecting to existing stub roads. Commissioners flagged issues ranging from traffic calming and tree canopy preservation to stormwater capacity and possible encroachments from an adjacent mobile home park.
The developer said engineering design is still in early stages and committed to working through traffic, drainage and tree-preservation requirements before the project returns for final approval.
East High Street multi-use project clears hurdle
An amended development plan for a small multi-use project at East High Street was approved after the owner repositioned a proposed building farther from a city-owned retaining wall now under reconstruction.
The applicant said the building will be supported by helical piers drilled into bedrock, avoiding added pressure on the new wall along Vine Street. Commissioners removed several engineering concerns after that explanation, but required the developer to submit structural documentation during the permitting phase and formally request a waiver for a missing pedestrian connection to Vine Street.
Texas Roadhouse cooler addition approved in Beaumont
Commissioners also approved an amended plan allowing Texas Roadhouse to add roughly 200 square feet for a walk-in cooler at its Beaumont Farm location.
Because the addition encroaches into designated open space, the project required planning commission review. Approval was conditioned on updated site statistics, a revised tree canopy inventory and clarification of off-site stormwater detention arrangements.
North Limestone apartment infill advances
An amended development plan for a long-vacant stretch of North Limestone cleared its first hurdle, allowing the conversion of an existing house into apartments and the construction of two additional apartment buildings.
The applicant told commissioners the project would create 39 income-restricted units targeted at households earning 60% of area median income or less, with financing expected through Kentucky Housing Corporation tax credits.
Planning staff emphasized that the project will require a consolidation plat, updated stormwater plans and revised tree-canopy calculations before final certification.
Citation Center overhaul put on hold
The meeting’s most contentious item — a comprehensive amendment to the Citation Center development at Georgetown Road — was postponed.
Commissioners expressed concern about shifting wetland boundaries, incomplete environmental documentation, pedestrian safety across large parking fields and the realism of reserving development rights for a hypothetical 12-story hotel.
Planning staff warned that while hotels are a permitted use, allocating so much future floor-area ratio to a single unbuilt structure could leave large portions of the site undevelopable later if zoning limits are exceeded.
Without updated environmental studies and clearer mitigation plans, commissioners voted unanimously to delay the proposal.
What’s next
Approved projects now move to technical sign-offs and permitting, while postponed items will return after revisions. The Planning Commission typically meets twice monthly at the LFUCG Government Center, with agendas and materials posted in advance.