Week of July 19, 2021

Written By Richard Young

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

We are once again asking you to provide input on how the City of Lexington should spend $120M in American Rescue Plan Act funding.

Let's break it down.

  • 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.

Council has released a public survey and an opportunity to submit projects for ARPA funding consideration.

  • The survey won't necessrily dictate what council will or won't do, but it will help them get a sense of public priorities.

  • There are specific things that LFUCG can and can't use ARPA funds 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. Also, stay tuned for some announcements from the CivicLex team about how else we'll be getting the word out 😉.

🏢 - This week in City Hall:
A small (but big) potential change to the Zoning Ordinance

With council on break and summer in full swing, there's just not many public meetings going on in City Hall. But we did see a small change that going through the Planning Commission this week.

On Thursday, there will be a public hearing regarding a potential change to the Zoning Ordinance (among other things) that would change who is notified when a zone change is going before the Planning Commission.

Here's the short version:

  • As of now, when a zone change for development is being proposed, all property owners within a 200ft. radius receive a piece of mail notifying them of the proposed change.

    • This not only helps people know what's happening in their neighborhood, but it also gives them an opportunity to voice their support or opposition.

  • This Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA) would change that so that both property owners and property occupants would be notified.

  • Essentially, this is extending the same benefit that property owners receive to renters.

The Planning Staff recommends that this change is approved, mostly because it was a chief recommendation of the steering committee that helped create Planning's Public Engagement Toolkit. (FYI - CivicLex was on that Steering Committee! 😎)

The Zoning Committee of the Planning Commission has recommended that this item be postponed.


🏃 - Get Engaged:
Sustainable Growth Task Force input

We're back on this! 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:
Not much to follow up on! 


Is Council Recess as relaxing for you as it is for us?

🏢 This week in City Government

Monday, July 12

🚜 - Sustainable Growth Public Input Session
⏱ - 6:00pm on July 19 via Zoom
📍 - Digital, watch via Zoom
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - Register for the webinar here

Tuesday, July 20

😿 - No Public Meetings


Wednesday, July 21

🌳 - Greenspace Commission
⏱ - 3:00pm on July 21
📍 - 215 West Main Street, Suite 150
📖 - No public agenda available
🗣 - No input option available

Thursday, July 22

🏗 - Planning Commission Public Hearing
⏱ - 1:30pm on July 22
📍 - Council Chambers, Government Center
📺 - Watch on Zoom (Webinar ID: 915 4396 1729; Password: 374070)
📖 - Read the agenda
🗣 - Speak via Zoom

Friday, July 23

😿 - 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.

Richard Young
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