The city’s urban service boundary separates it from the rural areas of Fayette County and designates what land can be developed for housing or businesses. The ordinance is meant to address the city’s growing population while preserving its agricultural zones.
Jim Duncan, Lexington’s Director of Planning, said that balance has been an ongoing issue for the city.
“There's been considerable pressure to expand the urban service area to accommodate that growth, because in some respects, developing land that is outside the urban area is easier for some than it is to develop infill, just because of the nature of the scale of it,” Duncan said.
The ordinance would have city planners review how much land is needed for new housing every five years based on a 20-year projection of population growth. A study from EHI Consultants says Lexington is 22,000 housing units short, across all incomes.
A subcommittee would also review vacant land that could be removed from the urban service area before the city moves forward. Property owners can also propose land to be added to the urban service boundary before council makes a final decision on how much land to add.
Hal Baillie, Lexington’s manager of long range planning, said the new process is meant to be easier to follow. The city previously expanded its urban service boundary in 2023 – the first time in nearly three decades.
“Since we have never had an established program with this, we've really wanted to make all of the past efforts into a clear, transparent process so that people don't have to wait 20 years, 30 years, learn about it again, hear from planners who have never done it before,” he said.
Council is expected to take the first vote on the ordinance Thursday. It’s the first of two readings before it’s adopted by the city.
