After a five-hour meeting Friday, a Lexington Board of Adjustment hearing about Vulcan Materials Co.'s request for a conditional use permit was halted and extended until the board's next meeting.
Chairwoman Kathryn Moore called a halt at 6 p.m., saying some of the six board members who were present had other engagements and had to leave.
The first three hours of the meeting were devoted to hearing several other cases, including that of Embrace Church. The church was seeking a conditional use permit to purchase the Jefferson Fitness Center at 500 Maryland Avenue, off Jefferson Street, for a church. For two years, Embrace Church has met in the Kentucky Theatre on Sundays. Part of the church's ministry is serving the homeless.
A contingent of neighbors from the Near Northside Neighborhood turned out to oppose the church's request. "My fear is the concentration of any more homeless to our area," said Rebecca Jann, whose family owns West Jefferson Place, an office building that backs up to the fitness center. Several others echoed her concerns.
The board voted 4-to-2 against allowing Embrace to move into the fitness center.
The Vulcan case took three hours. The company seeks permission to extend its underground limestone mining on Elk Lick Falls Road in southeastern Fayette County into 135 adjoining acres on Turner Station Road in the Old Richmond Road area.
For an hour, Vulcan's attorney, Richard Hopgood, explained why Vulcan should be allowed to expand. During the next hour and a half, geological and hydrological experts for Vulcan answered board members' questions.
Three neighborhood opponents — out of about 20 who signed up — had time to speak before Moore brought the meeting to a close.
The hearing will continue at 1 p.m. Feb. 11 in the Urban County Council chambers, if it is available. If it is not available, Moore said the case will be held over to the next regularly scheduled board meeting at 1 p.m. Feb. 25 in council chambers.
The board does not impose time limits on speakers, but it has discussed limits for several months, Moore said. At its February meeting, the board will vote on adopting time restraints.
