Lexington council rejects controversial zone change

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - After more than four hours of deliberation, Lexington's Urban County Council has decided not to approve a controversial zone change. The vote means the council will not rezone a residential area to a mobile home park zone.

The rezoning would have allowed the park to expand into Lexington's first African American subdivision.

"St. Martins Village, as we call it, 'The Village,' has been a safe place to live and to raise a family. My neighbors are my extended family. This is my community," said Michelle Davis, the President of St. Martins Village Neighborhood Association.

'The Village,' built in 1955, is Lexington's first neighborhood for African American homebuyers. Michelle Davis has lived there 67 years, others in this urban county council meeting have lived there since since its development.

"We want to continue to grow our families and our investments," said Artie Green.

Residents fear their history, and now, their futures will be disturbed by the expansion of the neighboring mobile home park, Suburban Pointe, on Price Road. Developers want 16 acres of land re-zoned from residential single family to mobile home park. That would put an additional 52 manufactured homes closer to the Village.

"There are a lot of misconceptions about this type of use. And also this property. I think a lot of it is because of the former owner of this facility, and also the perception that I think a lot of us have about what a mobile home park looks like. As opposed to what the manufactured homes of today look like," said Nick Nicholson, the Attorney for Suburban Pointe Park.

Attorney Nick Nicholson said this would create affordable housing units, a buffer would be built around the property, and they'd be able to add amenities, like a playground and basketball court, to create a community for lower income families.

The Village's attorney, Bruce Simpson, argues this type of zoning change isn't conducive to the City's 2045 Comprehensive Plan, and would decrease property values. The dozens who spoke in front of council Tuesday night agreed.

"African American neighborhoods are in jeopardy in our community. These people are living history of what happened in 1955 and what has continued to this day. They stayed together because it was safe, they protected each other, looked after each other, and they have chosen not to leave even though they could," Simpson said.

District 8 Councilmember Fred Brown was the one dissenting vote.