Hundreds of homes planned for farmland north of Lexington

A proposed subdivision that could house hundreds of people might be coming to Georgetown.

The subdivision, which was approved for a zone change by the Georgetown-Scott County Planning Commission during a public hearing Thursday evening, would be on about 105 acres of farmland behind Anne Mason Elementary and Royal Spring Middle School on Champion Way. It would tentatively consist of about 480 single-family homes.

The plan also features slightly less than 18 acres of land conservation.

Urban Groupe Homes, a Lexington-based real estate company, is the applicant for the subdivision. Urban Groupe Homes developed other subdivisions in the Georgetown area, including Pleasant Valley, near the Toyota plant, and the Lake Forest/Harmony Ridge subdivision, near Lemons Mill Elementary.

The public hearing drew many Georgetown residents, who voiced their concerns about the proposed subdivision. Traffic was a major contention.

James Mullannix, a resident of the nearby Pebble Beach Drive, said U.S. 25, a narrow two-lane road, can’t support more traffic in its current state. U.S. 25 would be used to enter and exit the subdivision.

“I think you’ve got the cart before the horse,” he said. “That road out there is (an) absolute death trap.”

As a stipulation for its approval, Urban Groupe must make improvements to the road to alleviate traffic. Urban Groupe also must contact the Kentucky Department of Transportation to see whether any improvements can be made to U.S. 25, which is maintained by the state.

Scott County had more than 52,000 residents in 2015, according to the U.S. Census. By 2040, about 97,745 people are expected to be living in the county, according to recent data. It was home to only 15,000 people in 1960.

The plan will go to the Georgetown City Council for final approval. If the council approves it, Urban Groupe will need to return to the planning commission to present its preliminary subdivision plat review.

This story was originally published November 9, 2017 at 10:36 PM with the headline "Hundreds of homes planned for farmland north of Lexington."