The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council’s decision to expand the urban service boundary is opening up a whole new discussion. The revised comprehensive plan for future development will allow for between 27 hundred and 5000 new acres. Those for and against the expansion say much of the hardest work still lies ahead.
There’s been talk of expansion for years, but it was just that…talk. Now the vote’s been taken, a resounding 13 to two tally to allow development in time. It’s been a priority of many in the business sector, people like Commerce Lexington CEO Bob Quick.
“This area that’s been talked about, the two different areas, has been designated for this going back 27 years ago. What this does is gives us more land now to do business development and also to provide with affordable housing,” said Quick.
That term “affordable housing” has been a key phrase in the latest effort to expand.
However, not everyone has been in favor of the plan. Leading the fight against any expansion until a firm process is in place is Brittany Roethemeier, executive director of Fayette Alliance-which defines itself as dedicated to achieving smart, sustainable, and equitable growth.
“We’re gonna have to be real careful about where we grow because we want to ensure that our agriculture operations are protected, but I think number two, and something that folks were not talking about is the precedent that this sets in our land use policy,” said Roethemeier.
Roethemeier worries that future agriculture-related businesses may be hesitant to locate in the area because they could be negatively affected by development. She also is concerned the focus in the city’s planning department will be on planning for the expansion area and not policies that encourage infill and redevelopment.
Appropriate infrastructure is a key component of any development, commercial or residential. And sewer service is right up near the top along with electricity and pavement. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton says developers will be expected to pay for infrastructure onsite. She says sewer line cost is one thing while treatment is another.
“If there’s a new sewer treatment plant that has to be built, that’s a whole nother ballgame. I don’t know if there is…that’s what the sewer ability study is about..what can be sewered?..do we need a new sewer plant, etc?” asked Gorton.
“Oh, this is just part of my family’s history part. My grandfather used some of them. My father used some of them. And so, instead of getting rid of every one of them, we kept them around a while. My wife wants to get rid of them, like yesterday. But, you can’t have history if you don’t keep some of it. So, I’ve been kind of picky. I did keep some of them. I got some now I need to get rid of,” said Tucker.
John Tucker is a rural Fayette County resident. He’s talking about a number of old well-weathered tractors on his property. His farm, off Athens Walnut Hill, is in one of the two areas, mentioned as expansion sites.
“Who’s gonna feed the world? I mean you’re using prime farmland. It would be different if you was in a strip mine, coal mine area where you’re not going to be able to do anything with it. They’ve tried to reform it into usable land. This, this is prime,” said Tucker.
Tucker said his family’s been approached about selling his land. Most recently, the Fayette County native says he has received inquiries from out-of-town interests who want to build an athletic facility. Tucker said the expansion area suggested off Richmond Road comes near his property.
“Leapfrog-type expansion is a problem. So we need to look at how we make it continuous and not skip over one property and go to the next cause it’s got more property and it’s just a little bit cheaper and they get a bigger cut when they get done,” said Tucker.
Tucker is concerned that taxpayers will bear a heavier burden on paying for infrastructure improvements than developers.
As for sewer issues, Tucker said excess water runoff was a problem at another rural piece of property he owns. The farmer noted he raised concerns and was an impetus for the federal consent decree that led to a massive stormwater and sanitary sewer improvement program. Lexington Water Quality Division Director Charlie Martin said that decree does not apply to expansion, but he adds developers would need to play by the newer sewer rules.
“We have a 125 employees. We have two or three hundred subcontractors on every day. Just as fast as we can go…there’s a housing shortage…families need a place to live,” said Anderson.
That’s Anderson Communities Owner, Dennis Anderson. His firm is building a mixed-use community off Leestown Road. When completed, it will have some 500 rental units, a retail strip with three eateries, near a lake, and walking trails. Anderson said he would like to build in expansion areas. The residential and commercial builder noted rental occupancy in Lexington is about 98%, where around 95% is preferable.
“At 98%, it’s just kind of people moving in and out and people are just taking what’s available. They really aren’t getting to choose where they live and what they live in. So, there’s not adequate supply to give to families that choose to rent. About 45% of our population in Lexington, rents,” said Anderson.
Anderson serves on the Purchase of Development Rights Board, the City’s rural preservation program. He’s not concerned development over time in up to 5000 additional acres will cause undue stress in the ag community.
“The sky isn’t falling. We’ve got to have room for others. We’ve got to have room for growing. We’ve got to have room for our children. When you limit things as much as we’ve limited it here, it’s really a burden on the young people and new people to our community. They are the one really paying the price,” said Anderson.
As far as impacting central Kentucky’s equine industry, Anderson says loss of land is not a key issue in the horse industry today.
The need for low-income affordable housing, said Anderson, is a societal issue, with no free enterprise solution. He added it’s more apt to work with a government-private partnership.
At City Hall, Jim Duncan heads the Planning Department. It’s charged, along with the Planning Commission to propose how to use new acreage and how to set land aside for affordable housing. Duncan said that could mean passage of what’s termed “inclusionary zoning.”
“Requiring development to include housing that is affordable at a certain income level. But, then there’s also a density bonus or some other consideration given back to the developer in exchange for their providing that affordable housing,” said Duncan.
Duncan said the City Council doesn’t currently have that planning tool. It would require approval of a new ordinance. Also, work will center on creating a master plan on how the additional acreage will be used. Final approval of the comprehensive plan by the Planning Commission is still a few months away.
Fayette County Farmer John Tucker on his farm off Athens Walnut Hill Road
