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Council to City: Ensure sewers can handle growth
As the city continues its negotiations on alleged Clean Water Act violations with the EPA and the state, the Fayette County Neighborhood Council, disinvited from the discussions in May, recently filed its own lawsuit against the LFUCG in an effort to reclaim a voice in the talks. Among the issues raised by council in its filing was a call on the city to halt approval of any new development until it is shown to have the sewer capacity to handle it.
According to a statement from the council, it hopes "to insure that existing transmission lines have adequate capacity to handle both current flow, and any additional flow caused by tap-ons or new additions. Said another way, LFUCG must not be permitted to allow new development to tie into the sewer system unless it can be demonstrated to engineering exactness that the additional flow can be handled without causing overflows or flooding."
"The problem has been that the city has completely failed in its obligation to properly regulate development so that these vital infrastructure needs are met," said Scott White, attorney for the council. "This isn't anti-development. All we're saying is that you've got to make sure that, from an engineering perspective, before you add on new development, that the existing system can handle it. And if it can't do that, then you do what is necessary to expand the capacity before you bring it on."
"New development typically is not where the problem is," countered Todd Johnson, executive director of the HomeBuilders Association of Lexington. "In fact," he said, "there are many examples where, as a result of new development, the overall system has been improved. In the expansion area, where most of the new residential development is occurring, new state of the art systems and facilities for both storm water and sanitary sewers is being put into placeand this infrastructure is being paid for entirely by the developer. In general, most of the flow coming from the areas where new development is occurring is going away from the areas where problems are occurring."
Johnson added that it's certain that infill and redevelopment projects will be affected as many are targeted for areas where the oldest storm and sanitary facilities are located. "In addition, all the major projects like the University of Kentucky's expansion plans, new development for residential construction, hospital expansions that are on the table and all the new facilities being planned for the World Equestrian Games (hotels, etc.) could be impacted."
Ensuring that proper communication exists between Lexington's reorganized Department of Environmental Quality and city planners will be essential as negotiations are settled and the city moves forward, said Walter Gaffield, president of the council.
"The problem with capacity assurance is, when the planning commission approves a new development they don't look at the off-site impacts during wet weather," Gaffield said. "And there is a lack of communication between what would amount to the new Department of Environmental Quality, or whatever the mayor calls it, and the planning commission."
"Just to give you an example," Gaffield continued, "the worst pumping station in Lexington that overflows the most is the South Elkhorn Pumping Station, which is near Ramsey's Restaurant on Harrodsburg Road. That thing overflowed raw sewage into South Elkhorn Creek for 66 straight hours in September. That's where the Beaumont subdivision sewage goes. I don't think the planning commission knew that there was a problem with the pumping station."
- By Susan Baniak and Tom Martin
Gov. plans to call legislature into special session
At press time Gov. Ernie Fletcher said he would call the state legislature into special session beginning July 5. The governor, who sets the agenda for a $60,000 per day special session, has placed legislation promoting alternative fuels at the top of the list.
Fletcher has said that four companies are exploring the possibility of locating multibillion-dollar plants in Kentucky to convert coal into liquid fuels.
Business Lexington will be in Frankfort to cover the session. If you would like to receive E-mail updated of the Action at the Capitol, E-mail Tom@bizlex.com.
New retail, restaurants coming to Blue Grass Airport
After a half-century absence, deSha's will return to Blue Grass Airport. The airport board has accepted proposals for a deSha's American Tavern, Knob Creek Tavern, Quiznos and a Keeneland Shop.
The businesses will be operated by The Paradies Shops and Creative Host Services, which holds the food and beverage contract for the airport.
Keeneland president Nick Nicholson said the track's presence across Versailles Road at the airport helps send an important message. "When we were first approached with this idea, we thought it was a very imaginative concept and wonderful opportunity to demonstrate once again that Lexington is special. We're not just 'Anytown USA,' we're unique and we should showcase that whenever and wherever we can."
Creative Host Services will commit approximately $1.04 million to airport renovations. Paradies Shops plans an additional $1.09 million in renovations. deSha's operated a restaurant at the airport in 1956-57.
CHI to consolidate in Kentucky
The local governing boards of Catholic Health Initiatives' hospitals in Kentucky have approved the formation of a single, consolidated organization to serve the commonwealth.
The consolidated organization will encompass Flaget Memorial Hospital, Bardstown; Marymount Medical Center, London; Our Lady of the Way Hospital, Martin; and Saint Joseph HealthCare, Lexington; including Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph Berea. The new organization will have one chief executive and one governing board, to be appointed later this year.
The chief executive officers of the four health organizations — Virginia Dempsey, Bruce Klockars, Kathy Stumbo and Gene Woods — began meeting in 2004 to discuss how they could work more closely together to advance the mission and leverage the strengths of their organizations. On June 2nd, their recommendation to consolidate into a single market-based organization was unanimously approved by each organization's board.
During the next six months, a Transition Task Force will complete detailed plans for the consolidation. Members of the task force will include the chief executive officer and three members of the governing board from each hospital organization. The consolidation is expected to occur by January 1, 2008.
Lail Real Estate opens new office on Midland
Jimmy Lail Real Estate, LLC will be opening the doors of their new office at 261 Midland Avenue on July 1, 2007. Previously occupied by Medusa, renovations on the space will include the design of contemporary offices for numerous agents, sample kitchens and baths representing the latest in loft designs as well as an area electronically showcasing the residential and commercial properties that they will be representing. Commented Lail, "Our space will be representative of what a loft should feel like— open and spacious." Future plans include representing three proposed developments within the city of Lexington. He is also the owner of JimmyLail.com dealing with urban, residential, commercial and Carribean properties.
New grocery concept coming to Lexington
Lexington is getting its first Aldi grocery store. Aldi, an international grocery retailer, specializes in a limited assortment of private label, high-quality products at low prices.
Now operating more than 800 stores in 27 states in the United States, the company touts on its Web site that its "unique way of operating makes it almost impossible for competitors to match our combination of price and quality." Cost cutting measures include a shopping cart rental system. "You insert a quarter to use a cart," advises the company Web site. "When your cart is returned, so is your quarter. This innovative system allows us to minimize cost and pass the savings along to you." They also charge for grocery bags. "We don't hide the cost of our grocery bags in the price of our products, the way other stores do. You can either pay a small fee to purchase paper or plastic bags-or bring your own. Of course, we encourage recycling of bags."
Bruce R. Isaac, SIOR, CCIM, senior vice president, NAI Isaac Commercial Properties represented Aldi in leasing + two acres at the intersection of Colesbury Circle and New Circle Road in Northwest Lexington.
The Aldi Company opened its first shop in Essen, Germany in 1948.
Wood Properties adds five to shopping center holdings
Lexington-based BC Wood Properties has acquired five shopping centers from Center Services, Inc. of New York. The portfolio adds to the company's holdings of eight shopping centers in Kentucky an additional four centers in Shepherdsville, Crestwood, Corbin and Manchester. A fifth center in West Virginia was included in the acquisition.
Lexmark survey envisions a wireless world
Ninety percent of respondents to an international survey commissioned by Lexmark International, Inc said they believe wireless networks will be important to everyday life in their homes over the next five years. According to the online survey of 9,000 tech-savvy home computer users in 18 countries, 40 percent of respondents said they have already installed wireless networks in their homes and said they use their wireless networks to connect numerous devices and to support a broad range of activities, including 47 percent who said their wireless networks enable them to carry out work-related activities at home."