Advertisement

After hours-long hearing, Lexington pro soccer gets green light for stadium. Find out where

Lexington’s pro soccer team may soon have a permanent home.

The Urban County Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday to approve a zone change for Lexington Sporting Club’s 6,500 seat stadium and a training and medical complex at 5380 and 5354 Athens Boonesboro Road. The commission also approved a conditional use permit to allow for construction of the stadium.

The vote came after a more than three-hour hearing.

But the fight over the soccer stadium is not over.

The zone change now goes to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, which can hold a hearing and either accept or reject the commission’s recommendation. A date has not been set for the council to hear the zone change.

A dozen people spoke against the conditional use permit and zone change, arguing the stadium was too close to agricultural lands and would cause traffic headaches near the intersection of Interstate 75 and Athens Boonesboro Road.

The location is adjacent to 10 youth sports fields for the Lexington Sporting Club youth soccer program. Those fields were approved by the Board of Adjustment in September.

IVCP Athens South, the owner of the property, requested to change the zoning for approximately 30 acres near I-75 from a business zone (B-5) to a highway service business (B-3) zone.

A soccer stadium is allowed within a B-3 zone with a conditional use permit.

To allow for the construction of the stadium, IVPC Athens also requested a conditional use permit. As part of the approval of the conditional use permit, the planning commission put several restrictions on it prohibiting the establishment of pawn shops, strip clubs, massage parlors, and motor vehicle, motorcycle and mobile homes sales, among other rules.

The proposed development would be accessed from Doe Run Trail, which is adjacent to the Speedway/SuperAmerica on Athens Boonesboro Road, and a second entrance further west on Athens Boonesboro Road.

City planning stuff recommended approval of the zone change and conditional use permit. The property is located outside Fayette County’s urban service boundary, or growth boundary.

Hal Baillie, a senior planner with the city, said the land is largely vacant.

It is in a rural activity center, an area that has industry and jobs. It has sanitary sewer lines. Being in a rural activity center, applicants need to show that it will create jobs.

Baillie said Lexington Sporting Club is estimating the project will cost $40 million and generate more than 300 jobs, he said. The club estimates it will generate $16 million in salaries.

Moreover, it will generate more money in tourism dollars.

“Sports tourism can add to a healthy economy,” Baillie said.

The stadium will be situated close to I-75, away from homes and agricultural uses, he said.

“It is surrounded by residential and agricultural land uses to the southwest,” Baillie said.

The Urban County Planning Commission is considering a zone change for a 6,500 seat soccer stadium for Lexington Sporting Club. The property is located behind the Speedway on Athens-Boonesboro Road by Interstate 75. Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com
The Urban County Planning Commission is considering a zone change for a 6,500 seat soccer stadium for Lexington Sporting Club. The property is located behind the Speedway on Athens-Boonesboro Road by Interstate 75. Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com

The stadium is 60,000 square feet. The training facility will be 45,000 square foot. Approximately 2,000 parking spaces are on the property.

City traffic engineering has said they would sign off on the two entrances and exits, he said. Athens Boonesboro is a state road. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineers will not review the proposal until a permit to build the stadium is approved, Baillie said.

A lighting study showed that it would not affect nearby homes, he said. The stadium is about 1,600 feet from the closest neighbor.

City planners recommended there be no fireworks at the stadium and events can only take place between 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Electronic signs must be screened from view from Athens Boonesboro Road.

The new entrance farther west would be the primary entrance. Kentucky Transportation engineers have discussed either restricting turns or putting a signal at that section. A signal at Doe Run Trail is not possible because it is too close to I-75, according to the traffic study.

The on and off ramps to I-75 would be at maximum capacity before and after major events, such as games, the traffic study showed.

Steve Ruschell, a lawyer for IVCP, said the property is already zoned commercial. It has never been developed.

Vince Gabbert, president of Lexington Sporting Club, said they have 1,300 youth in its program.

“We are very excited about bringing professional soccer to this market,” Gabbert said. Both Louisville and Cinncinati professional soccer teams, which operate in higher leagues than Lexington, have been very successful.

‘Bait and switch’ opposition pushes for denial

Julie Goodman, who is also a Fayette County District Judge, lives on Athens Boonesboro near the proposed soccer stadium.

“You have to deny it,” Goodman said of the zone change. “It violates the comprehensive plan.”

The comprehensive plan guides development. The B-3 is too broad. The B-5 is more restrictive to businesses that serve travelers, Goodman said.

“This is surrounded by farms,” Goodman said. “This is the gateway to Lexington.”

Goodman said state transportation engineers have told her they will not allow a turn signal into the property from Athens Boonesboro Road.

Goodman said neighbors have been told Lexington Sporting Club was actually looking at a location in Jessamine County. Nicholasville planners have said they not have received an application for a stadium or training facility. Kentucky economic development cabinet officials, who approve economic incentives in Kentucky, also said there has been no approval of incentives for a soccer stadium in Jessamine County.

Goodman asked if the planning commission approved the zone change that they prohibit instant racing, a type of gambling that allows people to play historical horse races. Goodman said she other neighbors had heard the group wanted to put a second instant racing facility in Fayette County.

She was afraid of a “bait and switch,” she said.

Tom Miller, a lawyer who represents a neighbor of the stadium, said the proposal would hurt adjacent agricultural land owners.

“This plan absolutely does not protect the environment,” Miller said.

He said the sporting club has already hired players and staff: “They don’t need a stadium to create jobs.”

“The economic and tourism impact has been greatly overstated,” Miller said. “It’s going to be an absolute traffic disaster.”

The Urban County Planning Commission is considering a zone change for a 6,500 seat soccer stadium for Lexington Sporting Club. The property is located behind the Speedway on Athens-Boonesboro Road by Interstate 75. Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com
The Urban County Planning Commission is considering a zone change for a 6,500 seat soccer stadium for Lexington Sporting Club. The property is located behind the Speedway on Athens-Boonesboro Road by Interstate 75. Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com

Denis Yalkut, who lives on Athens Boonesboro Road, said traffic is already problematic after the opening of nearby Brenda Cowan Elementary. Yalkut said he was also told the stadium would be built in Jessamine County and worries that a gambling facility will be built instead.

“I don’t know what their real plans but if a stadium doesn’t come in, we don’t want gambling,” Yalkut said.

In rebuttal, Ruschell said they believe a stop light will be built at the second entrance, and the project does not negatively affect agricultural land.

“These people just want to stop it,” Ruschell said. “Your staff recommended approval.”

When pressed on whether the developer would use the zone change to put instant racing on the property, Ruschell said other counties have offered locations and economic incentives for the soccer stadium.

Lexington’s new professional soccer franchise in USL League One will be called Lexington Sporting Club, the team announced Tuesday. Lexington Sporting Club
Lexington’s new professional soccer franchise in USL League One will be called Lexington Sporting Club, the team announced Tuesday. Lexington Sporting Club

“During that process, several communities around us have solicited my client to offer the stadium there and offered them economic incentives,” he said. “Our going elsewhere is hypothetical and is exploratory. The deal in Jessamine County is speculative.”

Frank Penn and Zach Davis, two members of the planning commission, said they felt they could not overturn the staff’s recommendation but had reservations about the proposal. Both voted in favor of the zone change.

“It’s with great reservation that I vote yes,” Davis said. “Please prove me wrong.”

Penn said he hoped the stadium would be built.

“The stadium should be in Fayette County,” Penn said.

A long road

Lexington Sporting Club has spent more than a year hunting for a location for its stadium and training facility.

At first, the group had proposed a stadium on the current parking lot across from Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena. The group ultimately decided to pull that plan.

Lexington Sporting Club then applied to put the stadium and youth playing fields off of Newtown Pike. Due to widespread opposition, including the objection of Mayor Linda Gorton, the group scotched those plans last summer.

The club recently announced its starting roster and will begin play on March 18. Its first home game is April 8. The group has previously said it will play its first season at a yet-to-be-named college or high school field.

Lexington Sporting Club was created in October 2021 and will play in USL League One, the third tier of American pro soccer.