Lexington council’s South Broadway zoning case advances toward Aug. 26 hearing
Lexington’s Urban County Council approved a zoning-map amendment July 2 for a 4.355-net-acre site near South Broadway, Chair Avenue and Hayman Avenue. The vote allows a proposed high-density residential project to continue through the planning process, but it does not approve construction or guarantee that the project will be built.
Ordinance O-059-2026 changed the property from Light Industrial (I-1) and Wholesale and Warehouse Business (B-4) zoning to Corridor Node (CN). The council record says the case is to be heard by Aug. 26, 2026. That date was not listed on the current city Planning Commission legal-advertisement page reviewed for this article, so residents should check the latest official council agenda or notice before relying on it.
What the council approved
The rezoned properties are at 416, 422-424, 426, 430, 436, 442 and 451 Chair Avenue; 441 Hayman Avenue; and 633 South Broadway.
Lexington’s planning report describes Corridor Node as a zoning classification intended to encourage high-density residential and mixed-use centers that complement existing or future public transit. The designation emphasizes compact, walkable development along major corridors, pedestrian and bicycle connections, transit infrastructure and structured parking with activated ground levels.
The council action changed the zoning map. It did not grant final site-plan, building-permit or construction approval.
What the proposal currently shows
The Planning Commission staff report describes a proposed development with 326 units and 972 bedrooms, or about 75 dwelling units per net acre. Planning materials and local reporting describe the concept as student-oriented housing, but the ordinance itself approves only the zoning change and does not establish a student-only project.
The staff report describes several five-story residential buildings connected to a standalone parking structure by a fifth-floor pedestrian bridge. The parking structure would have an overall height of 68 feet and sixth-floor amenity space. The proposal includes 592 on-site parking spaces.
Those are planning-stage figures, not final project commitments. An earlier development snapshot listed 325 units, so the unit count remains subject to change as review continues.
What planners still want answered
Planning staff supports the proposed Corridor Node and high-density residential classification but recommends postponing the underlying planning case until the applicant provides additional information.
Transit is one unresolved issue. The staff report says LexTran Routes 13, 15, 24 and 58 use South Broadway or Oliver Lewis Way, and that a Route 24 stop is located along the site’s Oliver Lewis Way frontage. Staff nevertheless wants more information about what transit infrastructure the project would provide or enhance, including facilities such as seating and shelters.
Pedestrian connections are another concern. Curb, gutter and sidewalk facilities are present along Oliver Lewis Way and South Broadway, while Hayman Avenue, Lower Street, Chair Avenue and Emmaline Lane lack those facilities, according to the report. Staff said the proposed sidewalk network along Hayman and Chair avenues did not appear to connect to the existing pedestrian system on South Broadway and asked the applicant to provide those connections.
Staff also requested more detail about how the buildings would interact with surrounding roads, whether active first-floor uses could be added along important frontages, how the parking structure would be articulated and how the project would comply with Lexington’s multifamily design standards.
The applicant submitted a traffic study but did not submit the parking-demand mitigation study required for a significant development seeking a zoning-map amendment. Staff wants information about expected parking demand, how that demand would be met, strategies to reduce vehicle trips and measures to encourage other transportation options. The study would provide context for the proposed 592 spaces.
What happens next
The staff report recommends postponement until the applicant addresses transit-oriented development, mass-transit infrastructure, pedestrian connections, streetscape activation, active first-floor uses, multifamily design compliance and parking-demand mitigation.
For nearby residents, pedestrians, transit users and drivers, the remaining review will determine whether the layout, sidewalk connections, transit features, parking plan or building design change. The July 2 zoning vote keeps the South Broadway-area proposal moving; it does not authorize construction.
The next council milestone is referenced in the council record as Aug. 26, 2026, but that date should be confirmed through the latest official agenda or public notice. Until the remaining planning steps are completed, the unit count, bedroom total, parking configuration and other project details may change.
Sources
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