Community Inn Permit Decision Delayed

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The fate of Lexington’s Community Inn remains undecided after the Board of Adjustment voted to postpone consideration of the Winchester Road homeless shelter’s conditional-use permit. 

At issue is whether or not the Community Inn should be considered a church or a homeless shelter. Right now, a conditional-use permit allows for a church on the property, but not a shelter, which is what city zoning officials say the facility has become. The Board of Adjustment was to consider revoking the permit at a meeting Friday, but following a lengthy discussion decided to delay the matter, which board chair Louis Stout said will likely generate more interest in the meantime.

"I've been around here a long time and I know that this next hearing is going to be bigger than this one. I can tell you that right now," Stout said. 

Mayor Jim Gray announced the creation of a commission on homelessness in part to deal with operations like the Community Inn. The new Board of Adjustment meeting has been set for June 8that 1:30 PM.