In July, Lexington's Planning Commission advised against allowing large-scale solar projects on agriculturally-zoned land. But Council has the final say, and it will discuss the issue during its Tuesday Work Session.
The design manual sets out standards that put Lexington's Complete Streets policy into action.
Councilmembers raised concerns about the proposed ordinance's penalties, including whether a 30-day vehicle impoundment goes too far. It will return to the committee in October.
There may be a location other than the current Mint Lane Pump Station site that could be more efficient for new infrastructure - but it's outside the Urban Service Area.
In August 12th's Environmental Quality and Public Works (EQPW) Committee, Councilmembers voted to require the Division of Water Quality to study two locations for a new pump station in West Lexington: the current location of the Mint Lane Pump Station, and a portion of Mill Ridge Farm located near Bowman's Mill Road. The full Council will have to vote on whether or not to support this study in the coming weeks.
Water Quality Director Charlie Martin presented a proposal for building a new pump station and other supporting infrastructure at the current site of the Mint Lane Pump Station, located behind Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School. The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget allocated $2 million for the formal design of these improvements and for acquiring additional property at this site from Fayette County Public Schools.
However, the Bell family – who own and operate Mill Ridge Farm – has approached LFUCG to potentially sell or donate a portion of the farm to serve as a new location for the Pump Station. The property, due to its being further downstream along Cave Creek and being at a lower elevation than most of the area served by the current Mint Lane Pump Station, could be a more efficient location for a pump station.
However, Mill Ridge Farm is located outside the Urban Service Area. The Urban Service Area (USA) is meant to host all of Lexington's urban service infrastructure, including pump stations.
This Urban Service Area (USA) is an area in Fayette County that contains almost all new development of buildings inside of it - leaving the remainder of the county as rural, natural, or agricultural land.
The Urban Service Area controls the ability of land to be developed and receive city services like water and sewer. It is controlled via ordinance by the City of Lexington, and has been historically changed through the city’s Comprehensive Planning process.
There are some examples of areas outside the USA with pump stations – including the Blue Grass Airport, the Blue Sky Industrial Area, the Lexington Country Club, and the Bluegrass Stockyards. The majority of pump stations outside the USA have had to be specifically approved by Council before construction or purchase, and they largely serve specific properties and businesses rather than general urban areas like the Mint Lane Pump Station serves.
Moving the Pump Station outside the USA does not necessarily equate to or require an expansion of the USA. Interim Commissioner of Law David Barberie did stress to the EQPW Committee that moving the Pump Station to Mill Ridge Farm could be seen by some as a step toward including Mill Ridge Farm in any future USA expansions.
The Bell Family requested that Mill Ridge Farm be included in the Urban Service Area Expansion in 2023. The potential area that included Mill Ridge Farm was scored highly for its potential as developable land, but the Planning Commission ultimately decided not to include the farm in the USA Expansion.
The Herald-Leader's story on Tuesday's EQPW Committee mentions that several Lexington residents were invited to an event at The Manchester Hotel to discuss potential plans for the farm's future.
The Lexington Preservation and Growth Management Program (LP&GMP) is currently being drafted to lay out a new process for how Council considers decisions around the USA. The LP&GMP's current draft includes a provision that 10 out of 15 Councilmembers could vote to consider a change to the USA if a proposal came forward that addressed an identified housing or economic development need in Lexington. The LP&GMP is expected to be completed by the end of this year, but it may not be fully adopted until early 2026.
The $2 million in the FY26 Budget originally allocated for the design of the Mint Lane Pump Station will be reallocated to evaluate both the current pump station location and Mill Ridge Farm to determine how efficient each site would be, how much it may cost to build a new pump station at each site, as well as other details. Results from the assessment will be presented to the full Council in March 2026.
The Mint Lane Pump Station, regardless of where it ends up being located, needs major improvements. The EPA Consent Decree requires improvements to the Pump Station to be made due to excess sewage leaks from the station into neighboring areas and waterways.
The full Council will vote in the coming weeks on whether or not to support a study of the current Mint Lane location and Mill Ridge Farm in the coming weeks.
In July, Lexington's Planning Commission advised against allowing large-scale solar projects on agriculturally-zoned land. But Council has the final say, and it will discuss the issue during its Tuesday Work Session.
Lexington's Planning Commission recommended against proposed rule changes that would allow large-scale solar projects in agricultural zones. Council will have the final say.
A proposed 'privilege fee' system for new development could eventually help recoup hundreds of millions in infrastructure costs tied to Lexington's recent expansion.
As Lexington's Urban Service Area expands, how should it pay for new roads, sewers and other expensive infrastructure? A new "privilege fee" paid by the developers who benefit could help answer that question.