Two proposed zone changes within the city drew a packed house Tuesday in the Richmond City Commission Chambers, and an overwhelming majority was there in opposition of one or the other.
The Richmond Planning and Zoning Commission heard from Richmond Attorney Mike Eaves who spoke on behalf of the parties proposing the zone changes.
The meeting was a work session only, and no official action was taken on either agenda item.
The first item of controversy was the possibility of property located at 1266 Willis Branch Road being rezoned from single-family residential to multi-family.
“There was a considerable amount of discussion at the last (planning and zoning) work session about R4 (multi-use residential) and how many dwellings you can have on this property,” Eaves said. “The developer does not intend to develop the property anything close to what the ordinance permits.”
The R4 zoning classification allows six dwellings per acre, with a total of 1,104 dwellings.
Most of the developments will be single-family residential, Eaves said.
Doug Begley, president of the Deacon Hills Subdivision neighborhood association, spoke on behalf of the majority of the audience.
“We are totally against the R4 zoning,” he said. “Our main concern is all the traffic that we‚ll have going through our subdivision that was not designed for that. We also feel like this kind of development will lower our property value.”
The remaining audience was there in opposition to the next discussion item, which was a proposal for a zone change of 10.5 acres of property at 107 Barnes Mill Road owned by Jessie Kennedy Fennell.
The property is zoned as single-family residential, and the request is for multi-family units.
Developers Sherman, Carter Barnhardt, based in Lexington, have plans of building 144 units, with a total of 276 bedrooms and 351 parking spaces.
The development will consist of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in two- to three-story buildings, Eaves said.
A plat for the development has not yet been submitted to the planning and zoning commission.
John Wenergren of the Barnes Mill Neighborhood Association spoke on behalf of the audience.
“The neighborhood association is opposed to this zone change,” he said.
The association also plans to be represented by legal council.
“The proposal is being submitted by an attorney, and it seems like in that legal framework, citizens opposed to a project like that should be represented by council, just to make it a level playing field,” he said.
The planning and zoning commission will come to an official vote for both the Willis Branch and Barnes Mill zoning recommendations at its next meeting, The next planning and zoning commission meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall.
The commission’s final recommendation must be presented to the Richmond City Commission, which has the authority to either accept or reject the planning and zoning commission’s recommendation.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.
Local News
City residents protest proposed zoning changes
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Friday at library : Lecturer to portray founder of Berea
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As the son of a slave-holding father, Fee witnessed firsthand the benefits of having slaves and the profits that could be made from their labor. When he graduated from college and enrolled in Lane Theological Seminary, he began to understand the inherent wrong and destructiveness of slavery. -
Berea woman dies Tuesday in Laurel County crash
A Berea woman, Tommie Johnson, 60, died Tuesday evening in a Laurel County crash, according to the the Laurel Sheriff’s Office.
The accident took place about 7 p.m. at the junction of Maple Grove Road and KY 363 south of London, as Johnson was attempting to turn onto the state highway.
Laurel County Chief Deputy Eddy Sizemore said Johnson’s Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out in front of a Dodge Durango driven by Charles Joseph, 19, that was traveling south on KY 363.
After being extricated from her vehicle, Johnson was transported to St. Joseph-London hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
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Ian Rosser, an Eastern Kentucky University student from Lexington, clears snow from his car parked on campus Wednesday
morning after about an inch of snow fell in Richmond. Temperatures are forcast to be in the upper 40s today. Kentucky has seen a lot of rain in the past few months, as was predicted by the Farmer's Almanac, but very little snow has fallen. -
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The Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center will be hosting two, one-day volunteer training workshops for those interested in helping others with special needs.
The volunteer orientation days will be Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but only one day of training is required, according to Mark Martin who co-owns Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center (AFTEC) with his wife Cheryl.
The all-volunteer organization, which is based in Jackson County, uses horses to help humans deal with physical and emotional challenges. -
Man accused of holding samurai sword to girlfriend’s throat
A Madison grand jury will hear the case of a man accused of threatening to cut his girlfriend’s head off, and attacking her father with a samurai sword.
Russell M. Masters, 42, of Richmond, is charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, which is a Class D felony, and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence with minor injury) and resisting arrest, which both are Class A misdemeanors. Masters could receive one to five years in prison on each wanton endangerment charge, and the misdemeanors both carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail. -
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Richmond police have made an arrest in connection with property stolen from two homes last fall.
A woman reported to police Monday that she had discovered several items that were missing from her home on South Killarney Drive and her grandmother’s home on Raintree Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock. The items were a set of gold hoop earrings, a white Sony Vaio laptop, a yellow gold heart pendant, a gold tennis bracelet and a ladies’ wedding band with a diamond setting.
The complainant said the belongings had gone missing sometime between August and October. -
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The attorney for a man accused of stealing copper from a handful of electric poles questioned his identification as the same person who took copper from 32 poles two days earlier.
Public defender Meena Mohanty questioned Richmond police officer Nicholas Duvall during a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Madison District Court. Her client, Jeffrey W. Nester, 46, of Fourth Street, was arrested in connection with a Jan. 23 copper theft. He is charged with second-degree criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, possession of burglary tools and failure to notify address change to the Department of Transportation. These charges are all misdemeanors that, at most, carry a sentence of one year in prison. -
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
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Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
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Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
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