Lexington council postpones decision to hold public hearing on Pralltown rezoning
Originally published by WEKU.
A decision to hold a public hearing for a rezoning proposal in Lexington’s historically Black neighborhood of Pralltown was tabled by the urban county council during a Tuesday meeting.
The proposal would allow for the construction of a college apartment complex along the South Limestone corridor. It was proposed by the St. Louis-based real estate company Subtext to address growing enrollment at the University of Kentucky, and the city’s plan to add more housing density by 2045.
It’s seen pushback from the neighborhood’s Black residents, who worry it would gentrify the area and displace residents.
The Urban County Planning Commission narrowly recommended against the rezoning proposal last month.
The council’s decision to postpone came after much debate. Vice Mayor Dan Wu says he’s in favor of a hearing because of the planning commission’s split vote.
“The one move that I don’t want to take is no action whatsoever, to let the clock run out, to let the planning commission’s decision stand,” Wu said. “Not because I agree or disagree with the planning commission, it’s because I don’t think that that’s how we should operate. I think we should be proactive and take our role seriously on taking whatever the action is.”
Councilmember James Brown argued against a public hearing. He says letting the commission’s decision stand would give more time for discussion between the developer and residents. If the proposal is shot down, the developer can re-file after one year if significant adjustments are made.
“I think there is a solution to this development,” Brown said. “It sounds like the developer is willing to make changes, willing to make concessions. I don’t think the concessions need to be to the government. I think they need to be to the neighborhood.”
The developer says they’ve scaled back the project’s size and scope since that meeting, decreasing the amount of area the complex would take up by 25%.
A previous adjustment also reduced the number of residential units, reduced the height of the building by one floor and added a longer buffer area between the complex and the historical family houses.
The decision takes the item off the council’s docket until further notice. The council can make a decision to hold a public hearing by December 5, or let the original recommendation stand.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.
Originally published by WEKU.
Republished with permission.
