Land Use News

The Fayette Alliance conceptually supports the use of a vacant land commission and ”blight tax” to facilitate the appropriate redevelopment of abandoned and underutilized properties inside Lexington’s city limits.  Click here for more details.  LFUCG is working on this initiative, and we will keep you posted as details and progress unfolds.

“Southland Christian expects to buy, revamp Lexington Mall for $30 million:Pastor to outline details of funding plans in Labor Day weekend sermons”

If Southland Christian Church buys the Lexington Mall property, the former Dillard's department store, center, would be renovated, the one-story portion of the mall, right, would be demolished, and a 2,800-seat auditorium would be built. The Richmond Road site would be the church's second satellite campus. | Kentucky.com

By Beverly Fortune, posted August 24, 2010
Excerpt from Kentucky.com

Southland Christian Church will decide Aug. 30 whether to commit to buying Lexington Mall on Richmond Road.

Chris Hahn, senior executive pastor, said Monday he did not see any reason for the church not to go ahead with purchasing the vacant mall.

The church Friday received an estimate of $30 million to buy the 30-acre site, demolish the one-story portion of the mall, build a 2,800-seat auditorium, renovate the two-story former Dillard’s department store and create a green space with a stream leading to a reconfigured pond with its own water feature…Read more at Kentucky.com

Read more Lexington Herald-Leader articles on Lexington’s abandoned mall properties below,

Read the rest of this entry »

“Council moving forward with makeover of Manchester Street: Method of awarding Distillery District contract generates division”

By Beverly Fortune, posted August 19, 2010
Excerpt from Kentucky.com

A divided Urban County Council took the first step Tuesday toward giving a major makeover to the Distillery District, an area along Manchester Street where officials hope an arts and entertainment district will thrive someday.

During its work session, the council approved putting on Thursday night’s docket a resolution to spend $500,000 on a feasibility study to determine what work needs to be done in the area, how much it would cost and how long it would take to complete.

The project probably would include new sidewalks, storm and sanitary sewers, underground utilities, street lights and construction of a portion of the Town Branch Trail along Manchester Street…Read more at Kentucky.com

Read more about the Distillery District,

The Fayette Alliance Supports Distillery District Text Amendment

Distillery District TIF Projects Approved by State

According to the Kentucky Department of Water, over 70% of our creeks and streams in Fayette County are impaired or polluted.  This is a shocking fact, and The Fayette Alliance is committed to help fix the problem.

View the Alliance’s position statement, and learn more about the Water Quality Management Fee and Program.
Learn how water quality issues affect your neighborhood.

We continue to face many challenges in improving our waterways.  We’ll keep you posted of all progress and developments here at FayetteAlliance.com

“Sewer line repairs nearing completion”

By Andy Mead, posted August 11, 2010
Excerpt from Kentucky.com

The broken sewer line that had been polluting a creek near Versailles Road was expected to be repaired late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Mark York, a spokesman for the city’s Division of Water Quality, said workers were digging up and replacing 185 feet of the line where they found four leaks. If there had been only one leak, city officials had hoped to repair it by inserting a liner into the 8-inch pipe…Read more at Kentucky.com

“Sewage leaks into Lexington creek: Problem was first reported in July, but city found nothing”

By Andy Mead, posted August 10, 2010
Excerpt from Kentucky.com

Workers were repairing a leaking sewer line Monday at a creek where sewage might have been running into the water for a month or more.

After a report of leaking sewage in early July, a city crew found no sewage flowing and drew up a plan to check the sewer line with a camera, said Mark York, a spokesman for the city’s Division of Water Quality.

That work hadn’t been done when the spill was spotted again Sunday…Read more at Kentucky.com

“State approves financing for Angliana project”

By Scott Sloan, posted July 29, 2010
Excerpt from Kentucky.com

RV Park

Update: Farmland Spared from RV Park

We need your help!

This afternoon, LFUCG’s Board of Adjustment will decide whether to grant a permit that would allow a temporary R.V. park on a 91-acre farm in Northern Fayette County.

We’re opposing this development because it undermines our local land use laws, threatens our Bluegrass farmland and signature agricultural industries, and jeopardizes our commitment to clean water in Lexington-Fayette County.

The applicant wants to build 444 individual RV campsites on the farm, each roughly 30’ wide and 50’ deep. Water and electric service will be provided to each site and a sanitation company will remove raw sewage from the sites. Two miles of gravel driveways will be constructed to transport R.V.s to Iron Works and Lisle Roads. The applicant aims to complete this project in time for the World Equestrian Games to host R.V. campers during the event.

Join us in protecting our irreplaceable Bluegrass landscape and fragile waterways.
Tell the BOA  you support The Fayette Alliance’s opposition to the RV Park.
Forward the message below to:
jmarx@lexingtonky.gov

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Dear Board of Adjustment,

Tomorrow, LFUCG’s Board of Adjustment will decide whether to grant a permit that would allow a temporary R.V. park on a 91-acre farm in Northern Fayette County.

I support The Fayette Alliance’s opposition to the proposed development of a temporary R.V. park on a 91 acre farm in Northern Fayette County because it undermines our local land use laws, threatens our Bluegrass farmland and signature agricultural industries, and jeopardizes our commitment to clean water in Lexington-Fayette County.

A campsite of this magnitude not only acts as a stalking horse for more non-agricultural developments in the rural area, and it also sets a dangerous precedent that waives health regulations requiring on-site sewage treatment facilities for developments of this size.

While we must promote agritourism and prepare for the World Equestrian Games, we shouldn’t do it at the expense of our zoning ordinance, signature farm industries, or already impaired natural waterways—especially as the need for this campsite is questionable in light of Midway’s recently permitted 500-space R.V. park, and inventory of still vacant hotel rooms in Central Kentucky.

Sincerely,
<Your Name>

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Thank you for your continued commitment to our town, our farms, and our future.
If you have any questions about this issue please email Executive Director Knox van Nagell.
We’ll keep you posted of all developments at www.fayettealliance.com

Read more about the proposed R.V. park,

“Permit is denied for RV park during the World Equestrian Games,” Beverly Fortune, Kentucky.com, 7.31.10

“Panel to consider request for rural RV campground during WEG,” Beverly Fortune, Kentucky.com, 7.30.10