Week of July 25, 2021
💡 - Big topic this week:
We're still harping on ARPA.
We're sure that you're tired of hearing about LFUCG's American Rescue Plan Act funds, but we're not gonna stop talking about them for a while!
We've launched a new resource on ARPA funds on our website and are planning a series of in-person workshops in August to help residents understand the process and purpose of spending these funds.
You can visit our new ARPA resource page here.
Register for our workshops here:
🏢 - This week in City Hall:
A number of meetings, but few agendas
We rely on a combination of the city's calendar, public access meeting notifications, LFUCG's open meeting Google Drive systems, and more to provide information for our newsletters. Unfortunately, while there are a number of meetings on the books in LFUCG for next week, none of them have agendas 😢.
So, instead of highlight one meeting, we'll just direct you to our summary of meetings. Check out what's going on using our website link below.
(Correction: Last week we said that the zone change property notification was issued to properties within a 200 ft. radius - it is actually 500 ft. radius. Sorry!)
🏃 - Get Engaged:
Grow Smart Academy 2.0
Our first recommendation for Getting Engaged this week is... you guessed it, ARPA funds! But, if you've already read about that, scroll down below.
CivicLex is excited to have a representative on Fayette Alliance's Grow Smart Academy 2.0 panel on Community Engagement!
Our Executive Director, Richard Young, will be on a panel with Lauren Weaver from the Division of Planning, Walt Gaffield from the Fayette County Neighborhood Council, and Christian Motley of Strive Together to discuss how to get engaged in Lexington's civic life.
The panel will be on July 30th from 12-1pm.
You can register here.
🗞 - Updates from Last Week:
Sustainable Growth Task Force Recommendations
Remember last week when we talked about public input for the Sustainable Growth Task Force?Well, their recommendations have now been released.
If the Sustainable Growth Task Force recommendations are adopted, they could change how we think about the Urban Growth/Service Boundary (USB), one of the most controversial issues in Lexington.
The USB is typically a part of our twice-a-decade debate about the city'sComprehensive Plan.
The USB debate almost always makes adopting our Comp Plan a longer and more contentious process.
Considering changes in the USB separately from the Comp Plan will be a shift in how we talk about growth and change in Lexington for decades to come.
Instead of having this tough debate about balance every Comp Plan cycle, if these recommendations are adopted, the city will use a matrix to determine whether or not to expand.
The matrix takes into account data showing how much utilized, vacant, transitioning, and agricultural land is currently available inside the growth boundary in Lexington.
It combines that with projections about our future needs for housing, industrial space, and retail/commercial space.
That is finally combined with different scenarios for how future development can occur - will it be dense, suburban, etc.
However all this shakes out will guide decisions about how the city adjusts the USB.
The plan has already received public pushback from developers, the real estate community, and the chamber of commerce.
A piece of good news is that the Task Force is recommending some educational and language changes to the matrix to make it easier for residents to understand... which we think is needed!
🏢 This week in City Government
Monday, July 26
😿 - No Public Meetings
Tuesday, July 27
🕺 - City Employees Pension Fund Board Meeting
⏱ - 10:00am on July 27
📍 - 200 East Main Street
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available
Wednesday, July 28
🏗 - Planning Commission Technical Committee Meeting
⏱ - 8:30am on July 28
📍 - No location available
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available
🚜 - Rural Land Management Board Meeting
⏱ - 3:00pm on July 28
📍 - No location available
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available
🏞 - Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting
⏱ - 4:00pm on July 28
📍 - No location available
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available
Thursday, July 29
🏗 - Planning Commission Work Session
⏱ - 1:30pm on July 29
📍 - 101 East Vine Street, 3rd floor
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available
🏗 - Planning Commission Work Session
⏱ - 5:00pm on July 29
📍 - No location available
📺 - Watch via Zoom
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available
Friday, July 30
😿 - No Public Meetings
🏃 Get engaged
🚜 - Register for this week’s Grow Smart Academy
Our Executive Director, Richard Young, will be on a panel for Fayette Alliance’s Grow Smart Academy with Lauren Weaver from the Division of Planning, Walt Gaffield from the Fayette County Neighborhood Council, and Christian Motley of Strive Together to discuss how to get engaged in Lexington's civic life.
You can learn more and apply here.
💰 - Give input on how to spend $120M in ARPA Funds
🏃 - Give input here
Council has released a public survey and a project consideration form for how they should spend close to $120 Million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Earlier this year, LFUCG learned that it would receive just above $120M over two years through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This is a once-in-a-century opportunity for Lexington to make investments that would - under normal circumstances - never be possible.
There are specific things that ARPA funds can and can't be used for. Read more about that here.
💰 - Apply for the Community Environmental Academy
🏃 - Apply here
From July 6 - August 6, the Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works is accepting applications for the Community Environmental Academy. This program is open to anyone who is over 18 years old and lives or works in Fayette County. The Academy is designed to teach Lexington residents about local civic and environmental topics, such as wastewater and recycling. Classes are held one or two Saturdays a month from August through November. Childcare will be available during sessions. Participants will receive funding in the second half of the Academy (December through May) to design and implement a group project.
Applications and more information can be found at LexingtonKY.gov/CEA."
🍃 - Provide your input for how Lexington should treat Open Space
🏃 - Give input here
The Division of Planning is proposing a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments relating to Open Space.
What is open space? In the context of a city, think about small parks, greenspace, communal gathering areas, and other parts of our civic fabric. Open space provides opportunities for increased social cohesion and connection between neighbors and cultural events. It also has positive environmental impacts, including reduced water runoff, easing of heat islands, and more.
The Division of Planning's proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance will set new definitions for open space, set open space requirements for new developments, and more.
🚜 - Apply for the Grow Smart Academy
Grow Smart Academy is a free, four-week program hosted by Fayette Alliance designed to educate Fayette County residents on land-use planning and its relationship to our community’s economic development, environment, and quality-of-life.
You can learn more and apply here.
🅿️ - Give your input on parking in Lexington
The Division of Planning has put out a call for community members to help gather data to evaluate the current parking situation in our city. Learn more and take the Parking Survey here.
🗞 - Updates from Last Week:
Sustainable Growth Task Force Recommendations
Remember last week when we talked about public input for the Sustainable Growth Task Force?Well, their recommendations have now been released.
If the Sustainable Growth Task Force recommendations are adopted, they could change how we think about the Urban Growth/Service Boundary (USB), one of the most controversial issues in Lexington.
The USB is typically a part of our twice-a-decade debate about the city'sComprehensive Plan.
The USB debate almost always makes adopting our Comp Plan a longer and more contentious process.
Considering changes in the USB separately from the Comp Plan will be a shift in how we talk about growth and change in Lexington for decades to come.
Instead of having this tough debate about balance every Comp Plan cycle, if these recommendations are adopted, the city will use a matrix to determine whether or not to expand.
The matrix takes into account data showing how much utilized, vacant, transitioning, and agricultural land is currently available inside the growth boundary in Lexington.
It combines that with projections about our future needs for housing, industrial space, and retail/commercial space.
That is finally combined with different scenarios for how future development can occur - will it be dense, suburban, etc.
However all this shakes out will guide decisions about how the city adjusts the USB.
The plan has already received public pushback from developers, the real estate community, and the chamber of commerce.
One piece of good news is that the Task Force is recommending some educational and language changes to the matrix to make it easier for residents to understand... which we think is needed!
You can read the Herald-Leader's coverage of this here.
Read more about what happened last week here.
📰 - Other Key News from the Herald-Leader:
New grant will help preserve a building significant to Black history in Lexington
‘They’re dead now.’ Are gang members, retaliations driving Lexington’s violent crime?
Family, fear, ‘a sense of belonging.’ What pushes Lexington teens toward gangs?
Can a new road, I-75 interchange help Jessamine, Fayette County traffic woes?
‘She gave people a voice.’ Mural honors Lexington activist Anita Franklin.