[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6481661,"mediaKeyId","5602473-f47045b5c0b273e8fdd6382e88bd52a3","parentId",5602473,"title","Council hears updates on Winburn road extension, Meadowbrook lease renewal and downtown park sign funding","audioSeconds",271,"startMs",365000,"endMs",636000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602473-f47045b5c0b273e8fdd6382e88bd52a3&start=365&end=636","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602473-f47045b5c0b273e8fdd6382e88bd52a3/thumbnail_365000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6481661/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Council-hears-updates-on-Winburn-road-extension-Meadowbrook-lease-renewal-and-downtown-park-sign-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481661-e4f5540d56d14e72a6293f8976935bad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168385&Signature=Y7kCJ2MkVvKUK8JEFeoEtGtlP71soMCJwkzwSVh6LNWIdVkqwUfl7khvaj6SCcpOhoMohIvSzz2KfH3il3pveEnB2NtIQZ9XpkINrja8Ko~URHkhKKAQgwyKHYWRNV3GIZfDptOfjxaATO5jIvzwkKzD2vq-2W79L2Ud1VBxqCDdMCZvKXsCfM7NR1STkxTSSfAJ3JA~1gP944FNIcirnhwurUfTaPLzPbD9rZpfayxzAANnUIPtV2DFq3tloiTr4wTk0EzCx4Xdnfl~KSi0LkIqs~4Wugo6dqMVFS~6lPEdzlyikKe0tKsFSrUJ~z53HU7avKbSddZlnPQMPwsMYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington","date","2025-08-19T00:00:00Z","article","LEXINGTON, Ky. — During new business at the Aug. 19 Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council work session, staff provided updates and council members asked questions about three separate items: the Winburn extension project, a lease renewal for Meadowbrook Golf Course, and funding for an artistic sign at a new downtown park.

Winburn extension: City staff described outstanding right-of-way negotiations and a required land-swap approval from the U.S. Department of Interior before construction can proceed. Staff said two right-of-way agreements remain to be finalized; once those and minor design adjustments are complete, construction can be scheduled. The project team also reported discovery of drainage concerns that will be addressed with a detention basin added to the design to avoid worsening downstream flooding at Green Acres neighborhood.

\"We have two outstanding right of way purchases ... This still has another step where we have to go to the Department of Interior and get approval for the land swap portion of this,\" staff said. Staff could not provide a firm construction start date because of timing uncertainty on right-of-way acquisitions and federal approval; they estimated that if the Department of Interior approval and remaining negotiations proceed on an expedited timetable, construction could be bid next fall for work the following spring.

Meadowbrook Golf Course lease renewal: In response to council questions, staff confirmed the item before council is a lease renewal for Meadowbrook Golf Course. Staff said Meadowbrook hosts an estimated 18,000–20,000 rounds per year and is the city’s busiest par‑3 course, with high league play. The renewal preserves approximately 25 acres of municipal golf footprint under an existing lease arrangement.

Downtown park sign funding: Councilmember Savigny asked whether the new artistic sign at the downtown park was part of the original contract and how it was funded. Staff said the sign project was initiated by Councilmember Legree’s office and financed through a council capital transfer to parks for an artistic signage package. \"It came from Councilmember Legree's Capital Funds,\" staff said.

No formal votes on these items were recorded during the new-business update aside from approval of new-business order of the meeting.

Councilmembers said they appreciated staff outreach and asked that the Winburn project team continue neighborhood meetings and drainage updates as right-of-way issues proceed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lexington - Council Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","At the Aug. 19 work session the council received updates on the Winburn extension (right-of-way and Department of Interior land-swap approvals still pending), approved renewal of the Meadowbrook Golf Course lease, and confirmed the park sign will be paid from a council capital transfer initiated by Councilmember Legree.","taxTitle","Lexington City, Fayette County, Kentucky","taxId",5707,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6481665,"Council schedules Forest Avenue residential parking permit resolution after neighbors clash with Camel Club over street parking",931,12059000,12990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602473-f47045b5c0b273e8fdd6382e88bd52a3&start=12059&end=12990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602473-f47045b5c0b273e8fdd6382e88bd52a3/thumbnail_12059000.jpg","/articles/6481665/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Council-schedules-Forest-Avenue-residential-parking-permit-resolution-after-neighbors-clash-with-Camel-Club-over-street-parking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481665-aa068efc7a66b5a44830f1e609c38242/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168385&Signature=TB6Gm5QdSIC9SkWuWm1CfkMbGeqgteyhnTYyhuhlTZE7Sn4W9B0jA0EpunbUBBKjxXZaggHNeDofMx~sy3-V4i1k-lYeIg2YK~kQQe36C5jO1EUI-S6kUoQkjSAtNRboRFxv7hn1-cFxWa2pNgTshoyWMXY7FYRnMHAaw~QOXTF6DU1vZXHgl9QMjWPdxAp08aMCgt-D4~knlgvVqBg05JGNWDIjMiRzYjEJoRlHMD6vF-Sc3d0cmETR3Thv2U3ThgwLCJPeRIs8bdMTYn7pb7o9yqqAHNo7qWxGSL8N~D-ar45MHCu6YsQpY9QSGxu3eAb9~1RLH1-1yLqQ88~LDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted on Aug. 19 to place a resolution establishing a Forest Avenue Residential Parking Permit Program on the Aug. 28 council docket after multiple residents described ongoing parking conflicts with a nearby private club.

Councilmember Josiah Legree moved to place the resolution on the Aug. 28 docket; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Curtis and approved by the council. Councilmember Boone announced a recusal for conflict of interest before the vote; the motion passed with one recusal.

Residents from the Belcourt/Forest Avenue block told the council the issue has persisted since the site’s construction. Several speakers said club members, guests and employees routinely occupy the 10 legal parking spaces on the block, block driveways and sometimes park in illegal zones or on sidewalks.

\"The block, according to LexPark, has 10 spaces… There are many evenings and weekends that I can count 14 cars, all camel members and camel employees and I don't know who all, and they are bumper to bumper,\" said Marcy Deaton, who identified herself as a Forest Avenue resident. She said the club has off‑site lots and arrangements, but patrons continue to park on the street.

Other residents described driveways left blocked and slow police response to nonemergency parking complaints. \"I had to take an Uber to the airport last week because somebody was blocking my car,\" 1 resident said, a detail echoed by multiple speakers.

Business owner Brian Babbage, who operates a nearby business, said his establishment was targeted during the initial parking counts in a way he considers manipulative: he told the council he has evidence of neighborhood messages asking residents to park in study areas to influenceLexPark counts.

Neighborhood leaders and LexPark recommended a residential permit program for the affected block; Councilmember Legree said he placed the resolution on the Aug. 28 docket to allow council consideration after the neighborhood study and related communication.

Councilmember Legree moved the resolution to the Aug. 28 docket; Councilmember Curtis seconded. The motion passed and will appear on the Aug. 28 agenda for council consideration. Councilmember Boone announced a recusal for conflict of interest at the Aug. 19 vote.","Councilmember Legree moved to place a resolution establishing a Forest Avenue Residential Parking Permit Program on the Aug. 28 docket; the motion passed with one recusal. The item grew out of repeated neighborhood complaints that patrons and employees of a new private club were occupying on-street spaces and blocking driveways.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6481670,"Lexington council approves amended zoning rules on utility-scale solar, sets work group to refine standards",12184,734000,12918000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602473-f47045b5c0b273e8fdd6382e88bd52a3&start=734&end=12918","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602473-f47045b5c0b273e8fdd6382e88bd52a3/thumbnail_734000.jpg","/articles/6481670/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Lexington-council-approves-amended-zoning-rules-on-utility-scale-solar-sets-work-group-to-refine-standards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481670-06870330a20c9c8181e65208fc4002fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168385&Signature=cNbxp~6VHRAlQ2M3VDp-iXV8SborbqTMjsrrhD~fVdi8CGHJ2Jgf2SnpS-2Hmj0TIXqNB1G8DFbnlpsXO9UaNZ6d1FIOWUZYdQFHmqy5AGuFYleQ~~xiJeGgYmgQPFX-3JTQREVw3omtATRCxvt8ogJWwGf7nHAAgvXt8sfNwDjb4-0CZGzMbYr1kKYqtc3VXSeDcFzj7IAbIkwN7xtGcFw2W6CeoXndM0RJGd9zs-F5fLShXBEHNbvpjs2V~Z0OphC6Ywb7YSmSrl6kBEIMIYUsCpRAs3S219352Yydtdexh1PnoVvN4PY3HuGVvC8c9YH~lctm4-OX-WmhDfR3zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted 14-0 on Aug. 19 to advance a revised zoning ordinance text amendment on solar energy systems to first reading Aug. 28, following extended public comment and several council amendments that limited how much agricultural land could be used for private large-scale solar and added environmental and procedural requirements.

The ordinance as amended directs that large-scale ground-mounted solar in agricultural areas be capped at a level computed as 1 percent of Fayette County’s total land area, adds vegetative/land-management and decommissioning expectations, and requires specific application materials and community-facing processes when intermediate- and large-scale projects seek approval. Councilmembers also approved language encouraging (but not mandating) community benefit plans tied to large projects.

The council’s action was the culmination of a months-long process that began with a Planning Commission recommendation and a General Government and Planning Committee (GGP) discussion in July. Dozens of residents, farmers, business owners and industry representatives addressed the council during public comment, sharply divided over whether agrivoltaic approaches can protect farmland while expanding renewable energy.

“We support the amendment to the solar energy, system, SOTA, that would allow, development of ground mounted solar on 2% of agricultural land,” said Judith Humble, chair of the Bluegrass Climate Action Team, during public comment, urging the council to allow pilot projects that pair solar with agriculture.

Opponents — including longtime local farmers and the Bluegrass Land Conservancy — said prime soils and the county’s rural character should be protected. “We support the planning commission and the general government and planning committees proposed zoning ordinance text amendment that would prohibit industrial scale solar in the rural service area,” said Robert James, president of the Fayette County Farm Bureau.

Industry and labor speakers described agrivoltaic models and job opportunities. “At Silicon Ranch, our motto is to make solar do more,” said Blake Spurgeon, who identified himself as a representative of Silicon Ranch, describing grazing and plantings under panels at other sites.

Councilmembers exchanged multiple amendments on the council floor. Among the most significant changes approved before the final vote were:
- A countywide cap computed as 1 percent of Fayette County’s land area to limit the total acreage that could be used for large ground-mounted systems in agricultural zones (language moved by Councilmember Hale and supported by others).
- A vegetative cover and land-management requirement: applicants for large projects must provide land-management plans addressing soils, pasture/ground-cover composition, erosion control, staged-area restoration, fencing and access, with periodic review tied to decommissioning planning (moved by Councilmember Curtis).
- New conditional-use review criteria and a checklist of required application materials for projects in agricultural zones (maps, soils/NRCS data, topography, conceptual site plan, screening/renderings, insurance and restoration/decommissioning assurances).
- Intermediate-scale (larger small-scale) projects in agricultural zones were set to require conditional-use approval rather than by-right accessory status; small ground-mounted installations in residential zones were likewise moved to conditional use to ensure neighborhood review.
- An optional community-benefit concept was added: the Board of Adjustment must acknowledge impacts and any proposed community benefit plan; the council approved language suggesting a framework ($750 per megawatt sold annually for 15 years was discussed as a guideline) but did not make it mandatory.

Councilmember Sheehan, who offered the motion to place the amended ZOTA on the Aug. 28 docket, told colleagues she introduced protections “to prevent bad solar and promote good sustainable solar.” The Kentucky Public Service Commission, represented in a recent state conference, has told local governments that local ordinances help set expectations for siting even when state-level utility applications are involved.

Council members said they would form a work group to develop implementing language, enforcement mechanisms and clearer definitions for the new standards. Several council members urged that the work group include planning, building inspection and environmental services staff and community representatives; Councilmember Morton moved that a community-benefits discussion be referred to the Budget, Finance and Economic Development committee for further drafting.

The Aug. 19 vote on the amended motion was 14-0 to place the ordinance on the Aug. 28 docket for first reading. Members debated and adopted multiple amendments by electronic votes during the work session before reaching the final, unanimous vote.

The council’s packet and the July 1 committee materials list the Planning Commission’s recommended ZOTA and the GGP draft language. The council recorded several roll-call and electronic votes during the work session on amendment text and thresholds; final ordinance language remains subject to the first- and second-reading process at the Aug. 28 meeting.

The discussion makes clear that while Lexington will allow some private, ground-mounted solar in agricultural zones under the amended approach, the council intends to couple permission with soil-protection, revegetation, screening and community-engagement requirements, and to keep the total acreage tightly constrained. The council also directed staff to convene additional stakeholder discussions and produce more detailed, enforceable standards through a work group before subsequent approvals.

The zoning amendment does not alter the authority of state-regulated utilities to pursue projects through the Public Service Commission; council members repeatedly noted that utility projects regulated at the state level are not fully subject to local zoning but that local guidance can influence siting expectations and community negotiations.

The ordinance will be scheduled for first reading at the Aug. 28, 2025 council meeting; additional amendments or technical cleanups are expected as the council and staff finalize implementing procedures.","After more than two hours of public comment and council debate, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted unanimously to place a revised zoning ordinance text amendment (ZOTA) on the Aug. 28 docket for first reading, adding caps and environmental and procedural requirements and directing a work group to draft implementing guidance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears updates on Winburn road extension, Meadowbrook lease renewal and downtown park sign funding

Council schedules Forest Avenue residential parking permit resolution after neighbors clash with Camel Club over street parking

Lexington council approves amended zoning rules on utility-scale solar, sets work group to refine standards