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Lexington City Council last Thursday unanimously approved a conditional use permit to allow the VMI Alumni Agencies to use the upper floor of the Bank of the James building, located at the corner of West Nelson and South Main streets, as temporary office space during the proposed demolition and reconstruction of Moody Hall.
The permit was approved with two conditions as recommended by the city staff. The first condition was that only the second floor of the building be used as administrative offices under the Educational Facility, College/University use, and the second was that the permit would be issued for a period of 48 months, with the Alumni Agencies having the option to request an additional 12 months if needed. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the permit with both conditions at its Dec. 12 meeting.
“It’s an underutilized space right now, and I think it’s a good use of the space to have it used as offices,” Council member Leslie Straughan commented prior to making the motion to approve the permit.
Chuck Smith provided the second, and made note of the lack of public opposition to the permit as opposed to a permit for a similar use requested by Washington and Lee University in the Rockbridge Building last October.
“I regard them as identical permits, and I’m just having a hard time understanding why there’s no opposition to this and so much opposition to the other,” he said.
Prior to the discussion and vote, Council member David Sigler disclosed that he had a conflict due to his employment by VMI, but that he did not have to recuse himself due to being part of a group of three or more individuals who would benefit from the transaction, and that he could participate “fairly, objectively, and in the public interest.”
