Advisory group makes final recommendations for urban expansion in Lexington

WEKU | By Stu Johnson

The advisory panel examining where urban service expansion should occur in Lexington has finalized its map recommendation. The action Tuesday suggests growth totaling about 3000 acres with much of it located near the Winchester-Royster road corridor and Richmond Road-Athens areas. Planning and Preservation Commissioner Keith Horn said the final report now goes to the Planning Commission.

“And I would anticipate in October, as I said they’ll do their tentative approval of a growth area so that the master plan can be completed over the next year, but the final decision…the final final decision won’t be until the end of next year,” said Horn.

The Lexington City Council earlier this summer voted to see urban service expansion between 27 hundred and 5000 acres. Horn noted the net acre availability outlined in the advisory panel report is more like 28 hundred.

“The gross acres is all the acres whether its flood plain or other public property, etc. And then you deduct from the gross number what can’t be developed arguably and then that’s your net acreage. That means it’s potential for development,” said Horn.

In addition to the recommended expansion property near Winchester and Royster roads and the Richmond Road and Athens-Boonesboro areas a smaller area off Man O War Boulevard is also included in the final mapping.

WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, fact-based journalism. Monthly sustaining donors are the top source of funding for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation

Photo by Stu Johnson