Schilling rezoning hearing is June 25

Schilling Properties is seeking to rezone 706 Aurora Ave., where it demolished a house last year, from residential to business for an expansion of Blue Door Smokehouse.

After months of delay caused by Covid-19, the Planning Commission on June 25 will hold a public hearing on the requested rezoning of 706 Aurora Avenue to accommodate an expansion of Blue Door Smokehouse.

The meeting, which begins at 1 p.m., will be held by video teleconference (Zoom).
You might recall that back in February the neighborhood and the owner/developer, Schilling Properties, reached an agreement that would keep Blue Door’s traffic entering and exiting on Walton Avenue.
Unfortunately, the planning staff opposed our compromise and is instead recommending that all Blue Door traffic exit onto Aurora.
We’re asking the Planning Commission to overrule its staff and approve our plan.
Thanks to all of you who already have written letters to the Planning Commission.
If, like me, you’ve been putting it off, now is the time. I suspect our letters will be more important than ever because of the limitations of the Zoom format. Members of the public will be recognized to speak on Zoom for 3 minutes each. (More about that and how the Zoom meeting will work are explained in links below.)
You can email your letters to the Planning Commission in care of senior planner Hal Baillie at hbaillie@lexingtonky.gov.   
Here’s a link to an earlier post https://www.mentelle.org/2020/02/23/shilling-offers-concessions-on-rezoning/ to refresh your memory of the compromise design plan. Since that post went up, the plan has become even more compatible with nearby residences by eliminating the dumpster. You can see the design at lexingtonky.buildingeye.com.
Here’s the email we got from Hal Baillie on Tuesday:
The application PLN-MAR-20-00001: Schilling Properties for the property located at 706 Aurora Avenue is scheduled to be heard on June 25th, 2020 at 1pm. You are receiving an email, as you had previously submitted comment regarding this application. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and State of Emergency, this meeting of the Planning Commission will be held via video teleconference because it is not feasible to offer a primary physical location for the meeting. Please see attached sheet regarding viewing and public comment. You may view the meeting on LexTV Spectrum channel 185, Metronet channel 3, Windstream channels 3 and 20, or via live stream at https://www.lexingtonky.gov/lextv.
 
The agenda for the above meeting will be posted to the www.lexingtonky.gov/calendar one week prior to the public hearing.  The agenda will include specific information for this meeting necessary to join the video teleconference.  For persons with a disability who need assistance to participate in the above meeting, for assistance navigating the website, or if you have any questions, please contact the Division of of Planning at planningmailbox@lexingtonky.gov or 258-3160.