Lexington went nearly three decades between expansions of its urban service boundary, opting not to grow the city outward between 1996 and 2023. But both the divisive experience three years ago and the growing need for more housing was enough to convince the city council that a clear map was needed to guide future discussions.
“It’s one of the most contentious topics in Lexington. It makes and breaks elections for people. And this would dramatically shift how that decision gets made,” says CivicLex’s Richard Young.
The new guide, dubbed the Lexington Preservation and Growth Management Program, lays out a series of steps, from a 5-Year Growth Report to the Planning Commission to reviews of vacant land and expansion proposals. All with the goal of reducing what’s been a turbulent process into something more predictable, manageable, and less politically charged…