LEXINGTON — The Lexington Planning Commission will re-examine a zoning application to build a gas station on the village square next month.
Village Council voted Monday to refer the zoning application, filed by B & B Realty Holdings, LLC and Englefield Oil Co., back to the village planning commission.
The motion came after nearly 30 minutes of executive session, during which council met to discuss pending or imminent court action and to confer with legal council.
“We’re essentially referring this back to the planning commission for further review,” Council President Robert Jarvis said after the meeting.
Council also voted to employ the services of attorney Kathy Ryan.
Village Law Director John Studenmund said Ryan will assist planning commission with the review in order to develop a more thorough record for council’s consideration. Studenmund said that review could include a written recommendation as well as findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Jarvis said the village planning commission could also request additional traffic studies.
“That’ll be up to them, but that is one of the options that has been discussed,” he said.
Englefield already commissioned one traffic study as required by the village planning commission.
According to village administrator Andy Smallstey, the results of the study did not indicate that the construction of a gas station would have a negative impact on traffic flow. However, it did stipulate that there should be no left turns into or out of the parking lot from Main Street.
John Gordon, vice president of construction at Englefield Oil, said he had no objections to council’s vote.
“We’re fine with what they decided,” Gordon said. “I think they’re going to just review everything again.”
The planning commission first reviewed Englefield’s application last fall and granted the developer a conditional permitted use certificate.
Englefield returned with a finalized proposal in January. The commission found it met all zoning requirements outlined in Lexington’s codified ordinances. The commission then recommended council approve the application, but the motion to vote on it failed after no one seconded it.
The village planning commission will meet on Wednesday and again on March 16 at the Lexington Senior Center.
In other matters, council unanimously approved the Leverage Lexington 2035 Comprehensive Plan. The plan will guide village committees, boards and council and be reviewed on an annual basis.
Part of that plan includes updating the village’s zoning code to include architectural design standards and enhance Lexington’s downtown.
Jarvis said that any changes to zoning code would be grandfathered in and would not impact current zoning applications.
Smallstey reported that the traffic light at the square was struck on Feb. 8 by a truck hauling an oversize load. The village made emergency repairs and purchased parts to get the light functioning again, but that the damage has not been fully repaired. The light sometimes shorts and reverts back to a blinking four way stop.
Lexington will likely use funds from the streets and sidewalks fund to address the issue until a reimbursement can be obtained from the village’s insurance company.
“We need to make another purchase and some other repairs to get that fully operable and keep that from happening, so we’re working to get that done,” Smallstey said.
Mayor Brian White announced that council, boards and commissions meetings have been added to the meetings and events page of the village website.
