Advocacy Update: February 2025

Please see below for a list of advocacy updates from Fayette Alliance, including industrial solar, a new process for expanding Lexington’s Urban Services Boundary, and expansion updates.

Industrial Solar

As you will recall, there are currently two solar farm proposals in the agricultural-rural zone of Lexington-Fayette County:

• East Kentucky Power Cooperative
• Silicon Ranch

This photo shows the approximate location for the two proposed industrial solar sites.

East Kentucky Power Cooperative

The first proposal is by utility East Kentucky Power Cooperative for a 400 acre industrial-scale solar energy development on prime farmland on US-60 Winchester Road, and which is governed by the state Public Service Commission.

• Update: We are disheartened to report that on December 26, 2024, the Public Service Commission approved the proposal despite the objections of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG), Fayette Alliance, Fayette County Farm Bureau, Bluegrass Land Conservancy, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, and other community members who spoke out against the proposal.
• Next Steps: LFUCG and Fayette Alliance, together as formal intervenors in the Public Service Commission case, have appealed the PSC decision in Franklin County Circuit Court. Engaging local government and stakeholders in any proposal like this is vital for transparency, and to ensure any otherwise-prohibited development serves the community as a whole, and was not done by EKPC in this case.

We do not have an update on when more information will be available about the appeal, but we will keep you updated.

Silicon Ranch

The second proposal is by private developer Silicon Ranch, who proposed a county-wide policy change in our local zoning ordinance to accommodate an 800 acre industrial-scale solar energy development on prime farmland adjacent to EKPC’s proposal, near Haley Road and Haley Downs Road, off of US-60 Winchester Road.

• Important: The changes proposed by Silicon Ranch would permit variations of industrial-scale solar energy development throughout the entirety of our agricultural area.
• Update: In September, the Planning Commission recommended a zoning policy change that permits solar energy generation development in appropriate areas within Lexington-Fayette County, but prohibits industrial-scale solar development in our Agricultural zones.
• Next Steps: This issue has been moved forward to the General Government and Planning Committee of the Urban County Council.

We do not have a specific time frame on when it will be addressed, but your voice will be vital with the Councilmembers, and we will keep you updated.

How to get involved:

Here’s What We Think

As a reminder, Fayette Alliance supports responsible solar infrastructure development in urban and industrial areas, as well as on rooftops and brownfields.

• We are excited that LFUCG is studying the feasibility of putting a solar development on the capped Haley Pike Landfill — if possible, this represents an innovative use of an area that has lost its environmental value and doesn’t support our agricultural economy.

We do not believe that industrial-scale solar energy generation development should be permitted in our Agricultural-Rural zone, on our prime farmland.

USB Expansion Process

The Goals & Objectives of the Imagine Lexington 2045 Comprehensive Plan mandated an expansion of the Urban Service Boundary.

• They also mandated the creation and implementation of a new process to guide future decisions about growth and the Urban Service Boundary by August 31, 2026.

Pursuant to that mandate, the General Government & Planning Committee of the Urban County Council has begun work on this new process, which is currently being called the Preservation and Growth Management Program.

• It is in early stages and we do not have additional information on what this process will entail, but the information presented to the Council about this work can be found here.
• The Vice Mayor reported in the February meeting that more information and an outline of how the community can get involved in this process will be available in May 2025.
• One more thing: Excitingly, LFUCG Planning Staff is launching a data hub that will include updated development and growth information to inform these important decisions, which was a key part of Fayette Alliance’s advocacy efforts.

Fayette Alliance will stay closely engaged on this issue and keep you updated on how to weigh in.

Here’s What We Think

We believe the priority focus should be on innovative and creative ways to develop the thousands of acres we already have inside the USB for housing and jobs before we look to address unestablished needs by expansion of the USB.

By the Numbers

• 5,000 acres of vacant and undeveloped land currently exist inside the USB.
• 3,500 acres are zoned for housing development
• 1,300 acres are zoned for economic development.

The members of the General Government & Planning Committee of the County who will be overseeing this process and links to reach out to them are included here:

Council District 5, Liz Sheehan – Chair

Council District 2, Shayla Lynch, JD – Vice Chair

Council At-Large and Vice Mayor, Dan Wu

Council At-Large, James Brown

Council At-Large, Chuck Ellinger

Council District 3, Hannah LeGris

Council District 4, Emma Curtis

Council District 9, Whitney Elliott Baxter

Council District 10, Dave Sevigny

Council District 11, Jennifer Reynolds

USB Expansion Update

The Urban Growth Master Plan — which outlines the development framework for the expansion of the USB of approximately 2,800 acres — was approved by the Planning Commission as part of the Comprehensive Plan in the fall of 2024.

• We think: The plan is innovative, encouraging transit and pedestrian friendly infrastructure, diverse housing, connectivity and mixed-use development.

• However: While it offers density bonuses for affordable housing, it does not mandate or require it.

• Consider: A city study completed last year suggests more than 80% of the new housing needed over the next 20 years is for low to moderate income Lexingtonians – not market rate housing.

Blue Sky Industrial Park, a 310-acre property off Athens-Boonesboro Road near the I-75 interchange, was included in the new expansion area, but was not studied at the same time as undeveloped land included in the expansion plan.

• Update: A new study to reimagine the development potential of Blue Sky is currently underway.
• Below: Blue Sky Industrial Park is circled in red.

This area will be an example of redevelopment potential for a key corridor of Lexington-Fayette County.

• Important considerations: This area is already served by sewer infrastructure, and is adjacent to existing developed areas like the new Lexington Sporting Club soccer stadium and new greenfield expansion areas.
• Next steps: The goal is to provide more opportunities for economic development in an industrial and commercial area, which will also be located near new residential development.

Shovels in the Ground 🏗️

Infrastructure processes for new expansion areas have not yet been identified, and recommendations are expected to come out of another study being completed this year.

• Costs: Sewer infrastructure alone will exceed $200 million, with the plan being to divide this up between developers and the City.
• Residents and LFUCG will be responsible for paying for new fire, police, 911 services, schools, parks, and more.
• Multi-million dollar annual deficits for both LFUCG and Fayette County Public Schools were estimated when the areas were studied by an outside consultant, and more information will be critical to understanding the full impact of expansion on the community at large.

Fayette Alliance will continue to closely follow these updates and let you know how to get involved.