Future deliberations on development and preservation may be guided by a report compiled by a special panel. The Goal Four report became the topic of conversation at this week’s Lexington Council work session. One of those testifying before the Council was Knox Van Nagell. Van Nagell is the former director of Fayette Alliance.
“Whether we expand to the county line in every direction or we never expand the boundary again, we can’t be all things to all people for all time in Fayette County. So, we need to be thinking regionally. We need to be thinking about how we can maximize the land we have inside the urban services boundary,” said Van Nagel
Van Nagell said there needs to be understanding of the horse industry as it relates to economic impact and cultural brand.
Also attending the meeting was Todd Johnson with the Building Industry Association of Central Kentucky. He said the map accompanying the ad-hoc report calls for preserving much of the county outside of the proposed 20,000 acres of developable land.
“There’s so much of the county that’s already preserved outside of the potential development area that’s even been proposed. It’s not final by any means until all this work is complete. I think we’re doing a good job of continuing to balance out where our development goes and saving the land that identifies us as a region and a county that everybody treasures that lives here,” said Johnson.
City officials, developers, and agricultural property preservationists go through the difficult task of updating the comprehensive plan every four years. For many years, the debate has centered on whether or not to expand the urban services boundary.
