Week of July 12, 2021

Written By Richard Young

💡 - Big topic this week: 
Public input for Lexington’s ARPA funds

If you've been following along with our newsletters over the past year, you'll know that we've been pretty excited for this moment - public input on how to spend $120M in federal relief 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.


For weeks, Council has been deliberating on how to spend their ARPA funds.


Last week, in a Committee of the Whole, Council provided an answer to that question in the form of a public survey and an opportunity to submit projects.

  • We were at the meeting and learned that this survey won't create a set of rules for the council must actually follow. It's instead a way to get a sense of the public's priorities - or at least those who respond to the survey.

  • There are specific things that ARPA funds can and can't be used for. We had a summary in last week's CivicLex Weekly.


So... you now have until August 27th to complete the survey and give your recommendation for BIG ideas to improve Lexington.

🏢 - This week in City Hall:
Council starts recess

If you look at the city calendar, you might notice things are a little sparse.

That's because the Urban County Council is on summer recess until August 10. Between now and then, there won't be any Council Work Sessions, Council Committee Meetings, or Council Meetings.

With that being said, there's no recess for most LFUCG employees, so there are still several smaller board and commission meetings happening. Check the link below to find out what's still going on.



🏃 - Get Engaged:
Sustainable Growth Task Force input

You've probably heard of Urban Growth (or service) Boundary... It's one of Lexington's landmark features - and one of its most contentious. This week, we're highlighting an opportunity to get engaged with if and how that Urban Growth Boundary changes.

In the ongoing debate about our city's growth, the Urban Growth Boundary is the centerpiece.

  • A very simplified version of the debate is this:

    • Allow suburban expansion outwards into the agricultural lands that surround Lexington, or..

    • Protect agricultural space and encouraging more dense development inside Lexington.

  • Just like everything, it's more complex than that...

    • If we do expand, how do we ensure that new development is built to fit what Lexington needs?

    • If we don't expand, how will we mitigate Lexington's housing shortages and address our affordable housing crisis at the same time

Lexington's most recent Comprehensive Plan (which governs how we use our land) recommended that the boundary not be expanded.

On Monday, July 19 at 6:00pm, the Task Force is hosting a public input process on its process for deciding how/if to expand the Urban Growth Boundary.

Here's how to get involved:

🗞 - Updates from Last Week:
The rules for new subdivisions stay the same (for now)

Last week, Council met to discuss several changes that the Division of Planning will recommend for how new subdivisions are built.

To put it bluntly, the recommendations didn't make it very far.

What were the proposed rule changes for new subdivisions?

  • Shorten the maximum length of a city or neighborhood “block” from 1600 ft. to 800 ft.

  • Eliminate the requirement for a minimum block length - currently, 500 ft.

  • Lower the maximum length for cul-de-sacs from 1,000 ft. to 500 ft.

  • Ban the use of cul-de-sacs off of cul-de-sacs.

  • Require any new subdivisions built directly next to existing or proposed public space make it easier for residents to access that space by requiring safe pedestrian access and increasing the amount of direct connection between the new development and the public space to 60% (from 0%).

These rules may come back up sometime soon in the future, so keep your eyes open!

🏢 This week in City Government

Monday, July 12

🇪🇺 - International Commission’s Executive Committee
📺 - 10:00am on July 12 via Zoom
📍 - Digital
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available

♿️ - Commission for People with Disabilities
📺 - 11:00am on July 12 via Zoom
📍 - Digital
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - No input option available
🔦 - Meeting Highlights:

  • The Commission will discuss a letter of support for ADUs

  • A new Council Member will be added to the Commission

🛣 - Paris Pike Corridor Commission
📺 - 12:00pm on July 12 via Zoom
📍 - Digital
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - No input option available

🏠 - Board of Adjustment Meeting
📺 - 1:30pm on July 12 via Zoom
📍 - Digital
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - No input option available

🏠 - Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board
📺 - 1:30pm on July 12
📍 - 4th Floor Training Room, Lexington Public Library, Central Branch
📖 - No agenda available
🗣 - No input option available

Tuesday, July 13

🎨 - Special Urban County Arts Review Board
📺 - 3:00pm on July 13 via LexTV
📍 - Council Chambers
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - No input option available
🔦 - Meeting Highlights:

  • New public art being discussed for Southland Park and the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden in the East End


Wednesday, July 14

🌳 - Tree Board
📺 - 10:30am on July 7
📍 - 5th floor Conference Room, Government Center
📖 - Read the Agenda
🗣 - No input option available
🔦 - Meeting Highlights:

  • The Tree Board is discussing changes to the street tree ordinance

Thursday, July 15

😿 - No Public Meetings

Friday, July 16

😿 - No Public Meetings

🏃 Get engaged

💰 - 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

🏢 - July 6th: Planning & Public Safety Committee

  • The Residential Parking Permit program for Fairfield Drive advanced out of committee

  • The proposed subdivision rule changes did not advance

📰 - Other Key News from the Herald-Leader:

Richard Young
Previous

Week of July 19, 2021
Next

Week of July 5, 2021