**If you are interested in giving to Fayette Alliance in order to support our efforts, please give at https://fayettealliance.com/donate/ We do NOT receive any of the funds given on change.org or through this website. Please see below for more information about giving**

As of Friday, July 14, 2023, Fayette Alliance is both supporting and participating in a lawsuit against the LFUCG Urban County Council in an effort to ensure that the elected officials of Lexington-Fayette County base future growth decisions on research and data, and that these officials adhere to the legal process when finalizing the city’s Goals & Objectives of all future Comprehensive Plans. 

This lawsuit is being filed in objection to the manner in which the decision was made to expand the Urban Services Boundary (USB).  

Fayette Alliance believes that it is important to accommodate growth and supports smart, sustainable, and equitable growth in Lexington-Fayette County. We advocate for land-use decisions and policies that are supported by objective research and data.

We work to ensure that growth within Lexington-Fayette County is accommodated responsibly, according to research and data, by following proper processes, and within the confines of the law and local statutes.

It is our belief that the LFUCG Urban County Council did not follow proper processes, did not act within the confines of the law and local statutes, and did not rely on research and data when making their decision to expand the USB.

By signing this petition, you can support the suit and help us show that public sentiment supports smart growth and data driven decision making with respect to growth and land-use policies within Lexington-Fayette County

 Authority to Make Growth Decisions

This is the first time in our city’s history that our Councilmembers have dictated an expansion of the Urban Services Boundary.

In their original draft of the Goals & Objectives, the Planning Commission did not recommend an expansion of the USB. Rather, they recommended maintaining the current boundaries of the USB and focusing our efforts on implementing a new, data-driven process to make future growth decisions.

The Planning Commission relied upon a thorough analysis and study of land use in Fayette County to make this recommendation.

A Precedent for Irresponsible Growth

The Council’s decision to disregard the thoughtful work of our city’s Planning Commission, and to ignore the data and research that has already been done, sets a precedent for irresponsible and unchecked growth for generations to come.

We believe that the Council’s rewrite of the Goals & Objectives does not comply with Kentucky State Law — specifically, Kentucky Revised Statue (KRS) Chapter 100. KRS 100.191 requires that any elements of the Comprehensive Plan be based upon “research, analysis, and projections” as specified in the statute.

Outcome

This lawsuit addresses the core of our mission and our work for data-driven and sustainable land use policy and is brought in the best interest of Lexingtonians.

It is our hope that litigation will result in the following:

• Ensure that all current and future elected officials of Lexington-Fayette County base future growth decisions on research and data.
• Ensure that all current and future elected officials of Lexington-Fayette County adhere to the legal process when finalizing the city’s Goals & Objectives of all future Comprehensive Plans.

By not complying with KRS Chapter 100 –by not going through the necessary processes of research, data, and analysis and by mandating the expansion of the USB by a certain acreage – the Council has acted outside of the law and made a decision that will impact generations of Lexingtonians.

Expanding the USB will result in generational change for Lexington-Fayette County and its residents. It is imperative that the decision to make this change is based on data and research, and that the process used to arrive at this decision remains within the confines of the law.

Fayette Alliance has been working for nearly 20 years to help ensure responsible, data-driven growth within Lexington-Fayette County. The issue is not if Lexington-Fayette County grows, but how.

Please join us today by signing the petition to show that public sentiment supports smart growth and data driven decision making with respect to growth and land-use policies within Lexington-Fayette County.

Donate

If you are interested in giving to Fayette Alliance in order to support our efforts, please give at https://fayettealliance.com/donate/. We do NOT receive any of the funds given on change.org or through this website.

Make a contribution of $100 or more to become a Grow Smart Champion at https://fayettealliance.com/fayette-alliance-champion-fund/. You’ll receive critical updates on the litigation process from our Executive Director, Brittany Roethemeier, and members of our Board, as well as other exclusive opportunities to dig deeper into Fayette Alliance’s work.

For more information about becoming a Grow Smart Champion, please contact Jared Sexton at Jared@fayettealliance.com or (270) 537-3954.