The Lexington Urban County Council’s Committee of the Whole voted Thursday to expand the city’s Urban Service Boundary by between 2,700 and 5,000 acres. Councilmember Preston Worley suggested the 5-thousand figure, and said the expansion would help solve the city’s affordable housing shortage.
“Despite its best intentions, in practice, our policies are doing us harm. In practice, failure to expand, failure to see future needs has basically said that those who have little or none should have less.”
Worley’s amendment was successfully amended by Councilmember Dave Sevigny, who explained the lower number this way:
“Using the scientific method, I want to test the process with a reasonable chunk of land, maybe 10% Of the remaining land available for development. And 10% is about 2700 acres and adds about 5% to the urban service boundary.”
Worley’s amendment was also changed to remove direction that expansion must take place south of I-64 and north of Athens-Boonesboro Road. The full council is expected to vote on the entire package June 15th.
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