by David Stevens | 5th district council
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I have always considered March 1 as the day spring comes to Kentucky, and perhaps it will in 2008. I hope so.
Some news about the 5th District The deadline for filing to run for LFUCG council came on Jan. 29. There will be three candidates competing for two spots in the May primary and to be on the ballot in November. I have met the candidates but their positions on city government are not known to me. I would be happy to arrange a 5th district meeting and invite the candidates if any one is interested, or attend any neighborhood meeting, especially if the candidates are there.
I toured the 5th district with Mayor Jim Newberry in December. He is pleased with the trees that were planted in the Tates Creek median in place of honeysuckle. More trees will be planted this spring. He also agrees that sidewalks from Lakewood/Montclair to Dover Road/Lansdowne Shopping Center are needed. A grant has been applied for by Greenspace Planner Cindy Dietz. If you support the project, let her know. She can be reached at 258-3267. The grant would pay for the sidewalks and their installation in the right of way.
The Lake Area Neighborhood Association applied for a zone change to prohibit the subdividing of current lots in the subdivision, which was approved by the Planning Commission and the Council. The residents also would like to have a red light on Alumni Drive at their entrance but that will not be as easy to do.
Johnson Heights Park next to Liberty Road had only one entrance off of Wyatt Parkway, which is only for pedestrians and has no parking. The Parks Division will construct a second pedestrian entrance off of Liberty Road at the North Base Maintenance Center with parking at night and weekends in their front lot. This will greatly increase the accessibility of the facility.
There are several problems that I have been trying to resolve.
One is the Lexington Mall, which is an abandoned property, as far as I am concerned. It is owned by the Saul Company, which has many shopping centers in the U.S. It desperately needs to be redeveloped.
Another is the ditch, or creek, along and under Richmond Road from the Idle Hour Country Club to the firehouse. The Corridors Committee is attempting to get the landowners and the city resources together so that the litter can be picked up and the creek cleaned up with new landscaping. Sidewalks are also needed.
Building inspection is using available tactics to work with the owner of the home under construction at Romany and Cochran roads to replace the sidewalk even if the house remains unfinished.
The Infill and Redevelopment Steering Committee initiated a new review about one year ago, after the adoption of the current Comprehensive Plan, which did not expand the Urban Service Boundary. Three task forces were established to review the various opportunities to promote appropriate infill and redevelopment of Lexington. For example, what can an organized plan and changes in government policies do to help achieve a better Lexington? This involves many considerations. The final draft will be presented to the public at a meeting on March 12 for review and comment. This draft will be on the LFUCG Web site.
As always, your ideas, comments and instructions are welcome.