2010 Growth Questionnaire
1. What is your vision for Lexington-Fayette County?
My vision for Lexington is: A high quality of life; a well educated workforce; a government that uses good business practices; a diversified economy comprised of agribusiness; technology; biotech; research; medicine; educational services; retail trade; business services; transportation; food and hospitality services; conventions, meetings, and tourism. Summarized: a great place for our children and grandchildren to live and prosper.
2. As a Councilmember, you will adopt the “Goals and Objectives” of the Comprehensive Plan—which governs land-use in Fayette County. Do you support an expansion of Urban Service Boundary during the next Comprehensive Plan Process?
I believe my track record in this regard speaks for itself. I have not made a decision on whether or not Lexington should expand the USA. I will need to evaluate data based on current and projected land use absorption rates and land inventories. If I were to support expansion, the growth area would likely be small and not contain quality agricultural soils.
3. As a Councilmember, what will you do to ensure that the land bank authority is properly established? What should be the criteria for awarding parcels for infill-redevelopment projects and/or real estate deals?
City government has invested substantially in enhancing the infrastructure of the downtown area during the last 24 months; this investment was, more or less, in lieu of activating the land bank. Funds in the land bank should be used to create assemblages and acquire available land and improved property when it becomes available in the USA. The acquired parcels or assemblages would be offered for sale to developers at market value, which would likely be greater than the purchase price. Upon sale, the revenue should be returned to the land bank, recycled, and made available for new investment opportunities.
4. Will you support continuing funding of at least $2 million, annually, for the PDR program?
As long as our government (and local tax base) can afford to finance conservation easements, I will vigorously support the PDR Fund.
5. As a Councilmember, how will you address Lexington’s affordable housing needs?
I am in favor of homebuilders constructing homes at “fair market prices” to meet housing needs. Entities like the Lexington Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity, and federal housing assistance would be my preference for helping families who cannot afford housing at market prices.
6. As a Councilmember, would you change the LFUCG Divisions of Planning, Building Inspection, & Code Enforcement? If so, how?
During the past two decades or longer, because of the lack of political backbone by the executive and legislative branches of the LFUCG, building inspection and code enforcement did not effectively enforce existing ordinances. These agencies must do a more effective job of enforcing existing laws before the LFUCG considers revising zoning and planning ordinances. Better enforcement will solve many of the housing problems. I would be highly receptive to initiating new ideas to make the these divisions work more effectively to enforce and manage this important area of local government.
7. As a Councilmember, how will you handle CentrePointe and similar development projects moving forward? How will you implement the Downtown Master Plan and its recommendations?
Form based design standards will help the LFUCG manage new development in the central business district. These standards should not be involved in approving land uses permitted by LFUCG zoning ordinances or require the developer to disclose confidential economic, business or financial information relating to the development. Form based design standards will essentially look at the dimensions of a building relative to open land, adjacent buildings and air space, as well as, the design of the exterior facades of the proposed development in relationship to other nearby buildings. This additional proposed evaluation will strengthen downtown development standards.
8. As a Councilmember, how do you propose addressing—in the long term—the student housing issues in Lexington’s established neighborhoods? How should LFUCG incentivize infill in the Urban Service Boundary, while protecting the character of established neighborhoods?
I would like to evaluate the changes in the Lexington residential zoning ordinance over time to determine if the recent code modifications are effective in addressing the use of single family homes by students. The same “lack of political backbone” in item six applies to this issue.
Infill development should be driven by the market demand for housing and commercial buildings not by incentives from the LFUCG. A government committee is not adequately knowledgeable to determine market demand.
9. Fayette County agri-business and agri-tourism generate over $3billion for the regional economy each year. As a Councilmember, how will you promote these signature industries?
I favor allowing the larger horse farms (certain minimum acreage) to engage in the tourism business. In conjunction, I could see a limited increase in rural hospitality businesses like Jean-Farris Winery and Bistro and Talon Winery featuring local wines and farm grown foods. I specifically would like horse farms to offer paid tours with a lunch or dinner provided by the farm’s kitchen. If the farm charged $35 per person and had 200 visitors daily for lunch or dinner and a tour, five days per week, the gross revenue potential would exceed $1.75 million annually. Bringing visitors to the farms would increase interest in horse racing, breeding, and equine investment, as well as, attract more tourism to Kentucky. More analysis needs to be done on agritourism ideas but the Bluegrass region in Kentucky could one day be equivalent to Napa Valley in California.
The value of farm land is directly related to the cash flow it generates. More income relates to higher values. On a recent visit to Napa Valley, I learned that good vienyard land was selling for $250,000 per acre.
