Council will begin finalizing the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget this week! Today and Thursday at 10am, Council will hold a Committee of the Whole (COW) Meeting where they will review and vote on recommended changes to the Budget.

Council has moved forward the controversial House Bill 443 Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (HB 443 ZOTA), which revises Lexington’s planning regulations and development process to be more objective. The HB 443 ZOTA will receive First Reading in May 29th’s Council Meeting, and will receive Second Reading and final vote of approval on June 12th.

In last Thursday’s Council Committee of the Whole Meeting, Long Range Planning Manager Hal Baillie presented the first draft of the Lexington Preservation and Growth Management Program (LP&GMP). The LP&GMP, once adopted, will establish a new process for how the decision to change Lexington’s Urban Service Boundary (USB) will be made. It must be adopted by August 31st, 2026.

There’s a lot happening this week with the city budget, including several Link meetings and a public hearing on the Mayor’s Proposed Budget.

In Tuesday’s General Government and Planning (GGP) Committee, the Committee will hear a presentation from Principal Planner Daniel Crum on the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA) related to House Bill 443, a recent law passed by the Kentucky Legislature in 2024.

In Tuesday’s General Government and Planning (GGP) Committee, Principal Planner Daniel Crum will present a proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA) that would create and modify regulations for solar panels in residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

In Tuesday’s Council Work Session, Lextran General Manager Fred Combs will present Lextran’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Council will vote on whether or not to approve the Budget in that meeting.

This week, Council will begin work on the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget. Mayor Linda Gorton released her Proposed Budget two weeks ago, and between now and early June, Council will review it, propose any changes, and vote to approve a final version.

In Tuesday’s Council Work Session, Council will take the first step in adopting a Vision Zero Policy.

Council advanced a proposal to increase parking garage and parking violation rates for LexPark.

On Tuesday, the Environmental Quality and Public Works (EQPW) Committee will hear an update on the Lex Grow Trees from Heather Wilson, Urban and Community Forestry Section Manager, and Lauren Gawthrop, Impressions Marketing.

In Tuesday’s Council Work Session, Complete Streets Manager Brandi Peacher will provide an update on the City’s Complete Streets work.

Last Tuesday, Mayor Gorton delivered the annual Budget Address and released her Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26)!

This Tuesday, the Social Services and Public Safety (SSPS) Committee will discuss a proposed ordinance regulating sober living homes. Sober living homes are residences, privately owned and operated, reserved specifically for individuals recovering from substance use disorders. Sober living homes do not provide any counseling or support services; they are simply housing units rented only to people in recovery.

Last Thursday, the Planning Commission approved the Ministerial Review of Development Plans Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (HB 443 ZOTA).

This Tuesday at 3pm, Mayor Linda Gorton will present her proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 (FY25/26) during her annual Budget Address.

Last week, the Planning Commission decided to delay voting on the Ministerial Review of Development Plans Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (or the HB 443 ZOTA for short) until April 10th.

The Kentucky State Senate did not vote on Senate Bill 61 (SB 61) during its final days of the legislative session last Thursday and Friday. Since it was not voted on, Lexington’s short-term rental regulations are unchanged and still enforceable.

This Thursday, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing for a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA) that will bring Lexington’s planning and zoning regulations into compliance with House Bill 443 (HB 443).

Last Friday, the Kentucky State House passed Senate Bill 61 (SB 61), which aims to prevent cities from regulating the density of short-term rentals (STRs). SB 61 originally was focused on minor adjustments to state regulations on private swimming pools. Last Thursday, Speaker of the House David Osborne filed an amendment adding language targeting cities’ ability to regulate short-term rentals.