Rural residents push back against proposed Lexington Pro Soccer youth fields, stadium
Lexington Sporting Club wants to take 147 acres off of Newtown Pike and Interstates 75 and 64 and turn it into 12 youth soccer fields that can host area youth soccer tournaments.
In addition, the group is also asking for a zoning text amendment to allow its proposed $20 million soccer stadium to be built on land adjacent to the proposed youth sports fields that is currently zoned for economic development. The current zoning ordinance does not allow a stadium in an economic development zone.
The land— between Newtown Pike and Russell Cave Road— is owned by Anderson Communities.
But horse trainers and landowners near the property say they have concerns about so much traffic and noise so close to horse farms.
The Urban County Board of Adjustment will decide whether to grant a conditional use permit for the youth sports fields at 2501 Russell Cave Road at a 1:30 p.m. meeting on June 28. The board postponed making a decision after a more than two hour hearing June 13 where more than 20 people who opposed the youth sports fields attended.
On June 2, a subcommittee of the Urban County Planning Commission postponed the zoning text amendment that would allow for a stadium in an economic development zone. A second zone text amendment that would allow lighting and concessions at the youth sports field was filed June 6.
The planning commission, which is separate from the Board of Adjustment, will decide whether to approve the zoning text amendments. Those text amendments must also be approved by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council.
Dennis Anderson of Anderson Communities said the city has long needed a youth sports complex. But various attempts over the years have failed. This will also help activate areas near Interstate 64 and Interstate 75.
“This is going to be clean, safe and well-maintained,” Anderson said. “This will promote health and fitness and youth sports and will promote social interaction. After COVID and social distancing, this will help build community. “
Dick Murphy, a lawyer for Anderson Communities and Lexington Sporting Club, told the board the 12 youth sports fields would host tournaments on the weekends once or twice a month. People would enter the field from Newtown Pike through Providence Place Parkway.
There will be a second access road into the property but only for emergency vehicles, he said.
There will be 750 parking spaces, more than the amount required under the zoning ordinance.
Murphy said they needed that many spaces to accommodate multiple teams playing at the same time. In addition, teams often show up early prior to the game so the additional parking is needed.
“We are not going to be using Russell Cave Road,” Murphy said.
The city’s comprehensive plan, which guides development, calls for a large youth sports complex. However, previous attempts to locate one in Fayette County have failed, Murphy said.
Vince Gabbert, president of Lexington Sporting Club, said the group looked extensively for a location that would accommodate the youth sports fields and the stadium. The Newtown Pike location was the only one that worked. The group had also responded to a request for proposals to develop the High Street parking lot across from Central Bank Center. The group ultimately withdrew its proposal from consideration.
Murphy said trainer Kenny McPeek, who has property adjoining the proposed youth sports fields, supports the project.
But neighbors of the property said they had too many concerns and unanswered questions during the June 13 meeting.
The property is currently a training center for horses.
Mort Shirazi said trainers who have horses on the property were only told last month that their leases would be terminated. It’s too late to find stall space to move those horses. Moreover, there are staff that live on the property or near the property that will be uprooted.
“We were given no explanation,” Shirazi said. “We have been misled by this group.”
Murphy said Anderson Communities has a lease with a third party for the training center. That third party than leases the space to trainers. Because of various legal issues, Anderson Communities was going to terminate the lease with that third party regardless of what happened with the youth sports fields, he said.
Murphy said the location was ideal for the youth sports fields and the stadium because of its proximity to two major interstates.
But neighbors said traffic is already problematic.
Lisa Lourie of Spy Coast Farm said traffic at the Newtown Pike and I-64 and I-75 interchange “is nothing short of dangerous” right now.
“The amount of traffic this will generate is prohibitive,” Lourie said.
Barbara Poole owns Newton Station Layover, a “horse hotel”, on Newtown Pike. Poole said traffic back ups on Newtown Pike around 4:30 p.m. when commuters are trying to get onto the interstate.
“We have had to stop traffic to get our trailers in,” Poole said. Poole said when there is an accident on the interstates traffic clogs Newtown and Iron Works pikes.
Other neighbors said things were moving too fast.
Jay Ingle, a lawyer who represents Fasig Tipton, asked the board to postpone a decision during the June 13 meeting. Fasig Tipton is adjacent to the proposed youth soccer fields. The horse auction house has concerns about various aspects of Lexington Sporting Clubs plans, he said.
Anderson and Lexington Sporting Club filed a new site plan on June 10. It also has various text amendments pertaining to the stadium and the youth sports fields that have not yet been considered, Ingle and others said.
“This is not a small change. This is a major change to this area,” Ingle said. Ingle said Fasig Tipton has concerns about allowing lighting on the property and wanted to hear more details.
Brittany Roethemeier, executive director of the Fayette Alliance, which advocates on behalf of agricultural land owners, said the proposed youth sports fields and stadium is too much commercial activity for an agricultural zone.
“Further, while outdoor recreational facilities are listed as a permitted conditional use in the A-R (agricultural) zone, the language, notably, does not include soccer fields,” Roethemeir said. “It is a significant concern to surrounding agricultural operations.”
Mike Owens, a former planning commission member, agreed.
“It has a viable training center on it now. It is not underutilized land,” Owens said. “Horses and intensive non-agricultural uses don’t mix.”
Anderson said it will take months for the zoning text amendments on the youth sports field and the stadium to go through the planning commission.
“There will be ample opportunity for public input,” Anderson said.
Murphy said if the Board of Adjustment approves the conditional use permit for the youth sports fields, Lexington Sporting Club hopes to start using the fields as early as February. Lexington Sporting Club recently took over two youth soccer programs and has more than 1,500 kids in their program.
This story was originally published June 21, 2022 at 10:40 AM.
