This is across the highway from our house where the stockyards were going to go.

Woodford project to include winery

By Greg Kocher

VERSAILLES --
A winery will be part of the mix of a new residential and commercial development in Midway.

The winery will be on the site of an existing barn at Midway Station, the site north of Interstate 64 where Lexington developer Dennis Anderson plans to put new houses, townhouses, offices, second-story apartments and restaurants.

"We're making space here where people can live, work and integrate all these uses together," said Dick Murphy, a Lexington lawyer who represents Anderson.

Anderson announced the development last summer, but the rezoning for those uses has been on hold since last fall as he finalized purchase contracts with the Woodford County Economic Development Authority, the current landowner. The property is now zoned for agricultural, commercial and industrial uses.

On Monday, the Technical Review Committee forwarded the rezoning proposal to the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning and Zoning Commission.

The committee considers matters such as drainage, utility easements and roads. If it finds no serious problems, it forwards rezoning proposals to the planning commission for consideration.

A public hearing about the Midway Station rezoning is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 29 at Midway College.

Murphy did not identify the winery, but said it will be a new business and not part of an existing one in Central Kentucky.

Vineyards for the winery would be on greenspace throughout the property, said Tony Barrett of Barrett Partners Inc., a landscape architecture firm.

The latest development plan shows greenspace on the western edge along Ky. 341, on the southwestern border along Interstate 64, and on the eastern edge of the property.

Anderson also proposes 80 units of commercial/residential space; 29 units of office/residential space; 153 units of "attached residential" space such as townhouses; and 343 single-family houses.

The plan shows suggested acreage for a church in the center of the development, although Murphy said no church has expressed an interest in the site.

The plan also shows two community centers, one at the northern tip of a "central lawn" greenspace and another on the far eastern edge of the property near Interstate 64.

The commercial and office uses are on the western side of the property near Ky. 341.

Anderson, who did not attend Monday's meeting, is best known for Townley Centre near the intersection of Leestown Road and New Circle Road in Lexington.

Townley Centre has a Holiday Inn Express, Applebee's, Walgreen's, Fazoli's, Taco Bell, Community Trust Bank and several other restaurants and offices.