Got ideas on how and when Lexington should grow? Weigh in at Sept. 16 meeting
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lexington proposes a multistep process to guide expansion before 2026 deadline.
- Growth plan emphasizes infill development and 20-year housing need analysis.
- Up to 250 acres may be added for major job projects under new economic criteria.
When and how to expand Lexington’s growth boundary is typically city government’s thorniest and contentious topic.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council is now considering a new, multi-step process to determine when to expand the boundary. That process would start two years before the city discusses the comprehensive plan, a five-year plan that helps guide development.
In the past, fights over when to expand the boundary have happened during the approval of the comprehensive plan.
Key changes in the plan include looking at future housing needs over 20 years. If it is determined there is a need for housing, the Urban County Planning Commission and then later the council can vote to add more land to the growth boundary.
But first, the council must look at policy or regulation changes to encourage more infill development.
Also new, the city can add land to the urban service boundary if there is a “special economic need,” meaning a new industrial project. To do that, a developer or a company would lobby the administration or a council member to bring a resolution to the council to expand the urban service boundary for that specific project. Then the developer or business would have to go through a zone change process.
In the past, the city has added land for economic development purposes without a specific, identified use or buyer. In some cases, the land sat vacant for decades or was converted to housing or commercial development, planning staff said Tuesday.
Public meeting on new guidelines set for Sept. 16
The city has been working on the new approach since January. The public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the new plan at a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16 at the city government center at 200 E. Main St.
Hal Baillie, long-term planning manager for the city, told the council’s General Government and Planning Committee Tuesday the feedback from the public meeting will be used to make possible tweaks and changes to the proposed Preservation and Growth Management Plan.
A final Preservation and Growth Management Plan will be presented to the committee in December. The plan must be completed by Aug. 31, 2026, according to guidelines voted by on by the council in 2023.
Public feedback during of an initial draft of the plan in May showed the public overwhelmingly wants to see infill and redevelopment over expansion, Baillie said.
“There is a want to continue to use underutilized land,” he said.
How the growth boundary has changed over time
The city’s growth boundary or urban service area limits development to certain areas. Those who have pushed to keep it say that boundary has helped Lexington control sprawl and better plan for infrastructure costs like roads, schools and sewers.
It has also protected farmland for development. Those who have pushed to expand or eliminate it have argued the boundary is driving up land costs, making housing pricey and unaffordable for some.
The council voted in June 2023 to add additional land to the urban service boundary. It was the first time since 1996 land has been added to the growth boundary. That vote came even though the city had not finished a previous plan that would have also detailed when and how the boundary would be expanded.
The Planning Commission approved a master plan for more than 2,800 acres added to the growth boundary in 2024.
A final Preservation and Growth Management Plan will be presented to the committee in December. The plan must be completed by Aug. 31, 2026, according to guidelines voted by on by the council in 2023.
Below is a summary of the key components of the new Preservation and Growth Management Plan:
Growth Trends Report
Purpose: Assess Lexington’s long-term growth needs and determine the total land required to accommodate population growth for 20 years. Contents: Includes community demographics, housing and employment activity, vacant land review, and policy/regulation recommendations. Data Sources: Kentucky State Data Center, U.S. Census, and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council permit data. Frequency: Generated two years after the adoption of the comprehensive plan and updated every five years.
Planning Commission Review
If the vacant land inventory meets the 20-year supply, the Planning Commission recommends policy and regulatory changes to improve land use efficiency.
If the inventory does not meet the 20-year supply, the commission recommends policy changes, regulatory updates, or adding acreage to the urban service area.
Urban County Council Review
The council reviews the Planning Commission’s recommendations and implements policy/regulation changes. If additional land is needed, the council passes a resolution specifying the total vacant acreage to be added to the urban service area.
Vacant Land Review
A subcommittee reviews land within the existing urban service area to identify parcels for potential removal or retention. Recommendations are submitted to the Planning Commission, which finalizes the total additional land needed.
Land Application Review
Property owners can submit proposals for land to be added to the urban service area.
Proposals must meet specific criteria, such as adjacency to the existing urban service area and access to infrastructure. The planning commission prioritizes and recommends parcels for inclusion.
Special Economic Development Need
Allows for up to 250 acres to be added to the urban service area for significant employment opportunities. Requires a detailed economic assessment and a two-thirds vote by the council to approve.
This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM.
