Preserve Woodford County Farmland

Recent signers:
Sharon Whitley and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

PETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF WOODFORD COUNTY TO MEMBERS OF THE FISCAL COURT As residents and property owners in Woodford County we urge the members of the Woodford County Fiscal Court to approve the proposed amendments to Articles II and VII as recommended by unanimous vote of the Planning Commission on 11-13-2025. We have witnessed, with growing alarm, the increase in farm subdivisions leading the fragmentation of the working agricultural landscape we value. We have experienced the increase of commuter traffic impatient with our slow moving farm machinery as we move our equipment among the various acreages we farm.  The current infrastructure of roads, water, and fire protection is inadequate for more housing growth. The cost of addressing problems such as new infrastructure and public service demands arising from the current rate of residential growth will be an increasing burden on the county. In addition, we residents of Woodford County value keeping it rural as is the clearly stated goal in the Comprehensive Plan, approved unanimously by the Fiscal Court. We support the proposed changes to Article II and Article VII. South Woodford County should have the same protection of its agricultural landscape as North Woodford County. The changes we are asking you to approve are not perfect, but failure to act now will only result in further loss of irreplaceable farmland, further degradation of the landscape and the quality of life for Woodford County residents, now and forever. We urge the Fiscal Court to approve these proposed changes as presented by the Planning Commission.
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Natalie BlakePetition Starter
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617

Recent signers:
Sharon Whitley and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

PETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF WOODFORD COUNTY TO MEMBERS OF THE FISCAL COURT As residents and property owners in Woodford County we urge the members of the Woodford County Fiscal Court to approve the proposed amendments to Articles II and VII as recommended by unanimous vote of the Planning Commission on 11-13-2025. We have witnessed, with growing alarm, the increase in farm subdivisions leading the fragmentation of the working agricultural landscape we value. We have experienced the increase of commuter traffic impatient with our slow moving farm machinery as we move our equipment among the various acreages we farm.  The current infrastructure of roads, water, and fire protection is inadequate for more housing growth. The cost of addressing problems such as new infrastructure and public service demands arising from the current rate of residential growth will be an increasing burden on the county. In addition, we residents of Woodford County value keeping it rural as is the clearly stated goal in the Comprehensive Plan, approved unanimously by the Fiscal Court. We support the proposed changes to Article II and Article VII. South Woodford County should have the same protection of its agricultural landscape as North Woodford County. The changes we are asking you to approve are not perfect, but failure to act now will only result in further loss of irreplaceable farmland, further degradation of the landscape and the quality of life for Woodford County residents, now and forever. We urge the Fiscal Court to approve these proposed changes as presented by the Planning Commission.
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Natalie BlakePetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Woodford County Magistrate
8 Members
1 Responded
Liles Taylor
Liles Taylor
Woodford County Magistrate - District 1
“Thank you so much for reaching out and sharing your support for the proposed Planning and Zoning Text amendments regarding Articles 2 and 7. Your activism is vital to the health of our community, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to make your voices heard. I share your sentiments deeply. As one of the fiercest advocates for preservation on the Fiscal Court, I view our farmland as a precious and finite resource that defines the character of Woodford County. My commitment to protecting our agricultural heritage is at the core of my service, and I have consistently led on this issue. My track record of advocacy includes: Support for the Woodford County Rural Land Board: I am actively working to identify a specific funding mechanism for the board's efforts to purchase property development rights (PDRs). This approach uses market-driven forces to ensure our farmlands are preserved for future generations while helping our community's farmers leverage the potential value of their land to ensure their economic security. Eliminating Tourist Destination CUPs: I have advocated for the elimination of the Tourist Destination and Tourist Destination Expanded Conditional Use Permits (CUP) within the proposed text amendment. This change is intended to guard against potential abuse of those provisions. Barrel Warehouses out of Ag Zones: I successfully fought to eliminate the A-1 CUP for barrel warehouses, ensuring they are correctly classified as a commercial use rather than an agricultural one. Strong opposition to the NW Corridor bypass: My opposition is focused on preserving farmland and preventing the sprawl of the Urban Service Boundary. This is also a matter of public safety, ensuring our neighbors can travel Midway Road without a massive increase in traffic—specifically commercial vehicles looking for a shortcut between the Blue Grass Parkway and I-64. Solar "Farm" Restrictions: Ensuring solar installations are located in commercial zones rather than being allowed via a CUP in Agricultural zones. Annexation Reform: Advocating for changes to the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) regarding cities’ unchecked annexation of unincorporated county areas for development. Regarding the current proposal, I have spent many hours reviewing the amendments for Articles 2 and 7 and fully support the thoughtful, hard work of the Planning Commission. To build upon their excellent foundation, I have identified some additional enhancements that will make the ordinances even stronger for preservation while ensuring they are fair for all Woodford County farm families. Here’s a summary of my edits: 701 AGRICULTURAL (A-1) 701.2C – Under “Principle Uses,” adding “public” before parks, as there is no definition of “parks.” 701.9C – Strike the “s” for Accessory Dwelling 701.9D – Under “Special Provisions,” in the “In-Family Conveyance Lots” · Minimum lot size of 1 acre · 2 in-family conveyance lots for parcels 31+ acres (remaining primary parcel must be at least 30 acres) · Primary and conveyed parcels must be held for at least 5 years with said period to commence only after the grantee has established residency in a primary residence constructed on the conveyed property · Enforcement Mechanism: 5 year holding period not to begin until issuance of certificate of occupancy · Restrictive Covenant with reverter clause recorded on deed · Exception of court order or substantial hardship · Water service certification 702 CONSERVATION DISTRICT (CO-1) 702.6 – Minimum lot size to remain at 30 Acres 703 RURAL RESIDENTIAL RR / RESIDUAL FARMLAND (RF) DISTRICT 703.7 – Minimum lot size to remain at 1 Acre 703.11(3) – Residual farmland maintain single, contiguous, and regularly shaped tract to facilitate the use of industrial farm machinery 703.11(4) – Water service certification 704 SMALL COMMUNITY DISTRICTS 704.3D – Under “Principle Uses,” adding “public” before parks, as there is no definition of “parks.” 704.4B – Clarify accessory uses to be “one” accessory dwelling (removing “apartment”), private garage, or parking area. 704.4F – Strike the “s” for Accessory Dwelling For more context on my perspective and these proposed changes, I invite you to watch this video where I discussed these issues with Judge/Executive James Kay: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1C8yeYSeNL/ Thank you again for your dedication to Woodford County. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have further questions as we work together to protect our land. Sincerely, Liles Taylor Magistrate, District 1 Woodford County Fiscal Court ltaylor@woodfordcountyky.org 859.533.1897 “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.” — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Larry Blackford
Larry Blackford
Woodford County Magistrate - District 6
John Gentry
John Gentry
Woodford County Magistrate - District 2
James Kay
James Kay
Woodford County Judge/Executive

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Petition created on January 7, 2026