Lexington
Planners OK W&L Setback Amendment
The Lexington Planning Commission voted 3-1 to approve an amendment to the Washington and Lee University master plan regarding the plans for the Admissions and Financial Center building, called Founders Hall, located at the intersection of Washington Street and Lee Avenue.
The amendment requested by the university is in regards to the setback from Washington Street for the entrance to the building. When the master plan was approved in 2022, the university had proffered that the building’s height would not exceed 50 feet and it would have a minimum setback of 34 feet from Washington Street. The design of the proposed construction has changed so that the entrance will now sit just over 21 feet from the street. The requested amendment was only for the setback and not for the maximum height of the building.
Commission member Tori Bates made the motion to approve the amendment and Krista Anderson provided the second. The motion carried in a 3-1 vote, with Commission Chair Shannon Spencer voting against.
Members John Eastwood and Leslie Straughan recused themselves from the discussion and vote on the amendment, citing connections to the university as conflicts of interest (Eastwood is employed by the university, as is Straugahn’s husband). Charlie Hall, the seventh member of the city’s planning commission, was not in attendance.
