Public had wide-ranging opinions about urban growth master plan in Fayette County

The strategy for developing over many years about 28 hundred acres of land outside Lexington’s Urban Service Boundary attracted a full City Hall Council Chamber Thursday. Public comments varied during the hearing.

There’s been consultant work coupled with the efforts of those in Lexington’s Planning Department in proposing development in five areas along major arterials. One of the first to speak during the hearing was Margaret Graves, a long-time rural advocate, who said she had a multi-million dollar question.

“And that is how will this be paid for and I think that that’s something the Planning Commission and the Council needs to take a hard look at and explain to the community, because this is going to be a very expensive endeavor,” said Graves.

Fayette Alliance CEO Brittany Roethemeier began her remarks saying the recommended growth master plan represents best practices for new neighborhoods and builds a roadmap for what responsible, sustainable, and equitable development can look like.

Todd Johnson with the Central Kentucky Building Industry Association expressed concern about basing residential development on commercial development, termed concurrency.

“An independent company with no bearing on another’s schedule, finances, or an ability to perform should not be expected to operate under the threat of being ordered to stop, based on the other company’s performance,” said Johnson.

Zach Worsham with Winterwood Development said his company is an affordable housing developer. He told the Planning Commission slowing down development of housing is not a good idea.

Urban County Council members were briefed on the development strategy earlier this week. Chris Taylor is in long-range planning for the City. He told committee members a different type of residential structure is being proposed in some of the expansion areas.

“It calls for a different development pattern than what Lexington has typically seen. These are shorter, more walkable blocks, denser mixed-use town centers with lower density sort of radiating out as you get a little further away from those town centers,” said Taylor.

The Commission will hold another meeting on October 31 and is expected to act on recommendations then.

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