The college sports bar Two Keys Tavern was set to reopen on April 23 on 503 S Upper St. after years of off-and-on openings since its first closing in 2020. The bar’s opening is complicated due to a lack of permission from the City of Lexington. 

As of March 29, Two Keys was working without the proper city permits needed to build a patio, fencing, or do interior or exterior work, according to Kernel reporting. Two Keys did have the proper electrical permit. 

Updates on permission have been made, however Two Keys still needs a waiver for vegetative space requirements, according to Susan Straub, the director of communications for the City of Lexington. 

According to Section 20-2 of Lexington’s Code and Zoning regulations, 75% of a vegetated area, or green space, must be covered with living plants. Vegetative requirements, according to the regulations, “Increase environmental sustainability and resiliency by providing green space to offset the impacts of the built environment.” 

Residents of the nearby Historic South Hill Neighborhood have raised concerns that if Two Keys were to have live music on a patio, B-1, or residential zoning codes, would be in violation. 

According to sections 8-16 of Lexington’s Code and Zoning, eating and drinking establishments offering live entertainment are prohibited in B-1 zones. Bars with live entertainment may be permitted within 100 feet of a B-1 zone with conditional use from the neighborhood and the Board of Adjustment.

Two Keys co-owner Seth Bennet has not responded to the Kernel for comment as of publication. Attempts to contact owner Carlo Vaccarezza are unsuccessful. 

A patio has already been built without permission, alongside a fence, according to Bob Carpenter, the director of building inspection for the City of Lexington. 

Straub said the Technical Review Committee reviewed the Two Keys development plan as of May 8. 

Two Keys has received the following updates and fines in terms of their permits, according to Straub. Fines doubling the fee of permits were issued by the City of Lexington for working without proper permission. 

• A sign permit paid for on March 31 with a total fee of $100. The permit was $50 with a $50 penalty fee for instating a sign before it had been permitted
• The interior remodel plan review fee was paid on March 10 for $50
• The interior remodel permit fee was paid on March 31, totaling $500. A $250 fee was added to the $250 permit for starting work prior to obtaining permission
• The fence permit has not been issued and will include a penalty fee when it is
• No permit for additional exterior work has been issued

The Technical Review Committee decided Two Keys still needs a waiver for vegetative open space, which will require Planning Commission action, Straub said. 

A B-1 zone, where Two Keys now resides, requires 10% vegetation. According to Straub, the tavern’s development plan only accounts for 3% of vegetative space. 

Two Keys requested a waiver for the vegetation requirement. The Planning Commission’s Subdivision Committee met May 7 to discuss the waiver, where they also heard concerns from neighborhood residents. 

“The applicant (Two Keys) has agreed to postpone the waiver request in order to resolve issues,” Straub said. “They will attend the Planning Commission meeting next Thursday, May 14th to officially make the request.” 

Neighborhood President Terry Lennie has not responded to the Kernel for comment as of publication.