Let’s build momentum for Lexington’s growth solutions in 2025 and beyond | Opinion

2024 was a year of change for Lexington-Fayette County, and 2025 is a year of opportunity. In 2024, we had:

▪ newly-elected local officials,

▪ new city-wide zoning changes,

▪ new proposals for renewable energy,

▪ new ballot referendums,

▪ and a new plan for expansion of our historic Urban Service Boundary.

Throughout 2024, Fayette Alliance said yes to more housing and development inside the USB. To start, we commissioned research studies to answer three questions:

▪ How much land is undeveloped inside the USB?

▪ What types of housing do we need to build to accommodate growth for 20+ years?

▪ How many diverse housing units could we build in those undeveloped areas?

Our study found thousands of undeveloped acres already zoned for housing with the ability to build tens of thousands of diverse housing units - if we commit time and resources to doing so. We created a one-page infographic and held a free public event titled “Mapped: Analyzing Land & Housing Trends in Lexington.”

We said yes to adopting the Urban Growth Management ZOTA, the largest and most significant city-wide zoning change in Lexington’s history, which supports more diverse housing and incentivizes walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods.

We said yes to responsible solar energy initiatives. While we oppose permitting industrial uses like solar energy generation on productive farmland, we support innovative solar solutions in both urban and industrial areas.

We endorsed the Vote Yes for Parks! ballot referendum, because we believe investing in our parks strengthens our community, expands opportunity, promotes equitable development, and enhances the quality of life for everyone.

We said yes to YIMBYism. We know that to truly grow our city while preserving our productive and irreplaceable farmland, Lexington needs to say yes to thoughtful development projects inside the USB, while finding ways to ensure community voices are heard and neighbors’ feedback is incorporated.

We said yes to an informed local election. We asked candidates in all 12 Urban County Council races where they stood on issues related to responsible and sustainable growth and development, ranging from affordable housing and economic development to transportation.

In 2025, we must build on this momentum. On June 3, to celebrate 15 years of education on the ways land use policy, agriculture, and development are all connected, Fayette Alliance invites the community to attend a free keynote event with Vishaan Chakrabarti, a renowned architect, author, and public thought leader. His most recent book focuses on how designing connected physical communities is essential to addressing our greatest challenges — from climate change to political division to our growing public health crises.

At City Hall, Fayette Alliance will be relying on research and advocating for:

▪ A renewed focus on infill and corridor re-development, including expanding the city-designated infill and redevelopment area with policies and incentives to support missing middle housing and economic development

▪ Innovative and expanded transit and infrastructure investments in our existing urban areas

▪ Discussion of a data-driven process to guide future growth decisions that begins with a focus on how to better utilize undeveloped land

▪ Creative ways to develop the thousands of acres of land inside the existing USB while supporting existing neighborhoods, and more.

At our core, we know the question is not if we grow, it’s how. We are urbanists, farmers, cyclists, outdoor enthusiasts, neighbors, advocates, community leaders, transplants, lifelong locals, and Lexingtonians from various walks of life who say “yes” to policies that grow our city and promote our farms.

In 2025, let’s work together to re-set the dialogue and the way we make decisions about how we grow — responsibly, sustainably, and equitably — into the future. Join us today.

Brittany Roethemeier is the Executive Director of Fayette Alliance, a non-profit working for smart, sustainable, and equitable growth in Lexington-Fayette County through advocacy, education, and research.