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Council sends solar zoning amendment to planning commission after committee report, 11–4
Summary
The council voted 11–4 to send a proposed zoning ordinance text amendment on large-scale, ground-mounted solar to the planning commission for public hearing and to send rural-area text to the Rural Land Management Board and Environmental Commission for review; supporters framed the change as creating guardrails, opponents said it threatens prime farmland.
The Lexington Fayette Urban County Council on April 30 voted to send a proposed zoning ordinance text amendment (ZOTA) for solar energy systems to the planning commission for public review and hearing, following a General Government & Planning committee report. The referral passed by voice vote reflected a 6–4 committee recommendation and an 11–4 council tally in the meeting record.
Council member Sheehan, reporting the committee outcome, said the proposed language adds decommissioning standards, clearer definitions, dual‑use agricultural requirements and a brownfield exception. "The group proposed updates ... including stronger decommissioning standards, added definitions, a requirement for dual use per agricultural production, and a brownfield exception," Sheehan summarized.
Supporters at the microphone argued the ZOTA contains protections — including a county-wide 1% cap on large-scale ground‑mounted systems — and can be strengthened through the planning process. Judith Humble, who identified herself as supporting the ZOTA, said the amendment is a step toward renewable energy goals and includes protections that can be improved in subsequent reviews.
Opponents, including farm and rural advocates, urged caution. Robert James, president of the Farm Bureau, told the council the amendment still permits industrial-scale arrays on prime soils and lacks concrete requirements to ensure boards can deny permits that threaten productive farmland. "All would take is another zoning ordinance text amendment ... to raise that limit in the future," James said, warning the 1% cap alone may not be durable.
Council members debated the balance between clean-energy goals and farmland protections during committee meetings; the General Government & Planning committee voted to report out the ZOTA and to send parts of the rural text to the Rural Land Management Board and Environmental Commission for their recommendations prior to planning-commission hearings. The referral returned to council for placement on the docket and moved to the planning commission for a public hearing.
The planning commission will now schedule public hearings and solicit written comment; the council action does not adopt the ordinance language itself, only advances it to the formal review stage.
