PDR UPDATE:
(As of 5.4.13)
MISSION STATEMENT:
To purchase conservation easements on 50,000 acres in the Rural Service Area to secure a critical mass of protected farmland for the general agriculture, equine and tourism industries.
Current map of conserved farms
237 farms totaling more than 26,866 acres are now permanently protected by conservation easements. PDR is now at 53.74% of the 50,000 acre goal defined in the Ordinance.
The types of farms in the program include 94 general agriculture, 130 equine and 13 'other' (sod, wooded, etc). The total includes 39 farms with donated conservation easements on 1,732 acres.
The Round 11 conservation easement acquisition is in process.
The Round 12 applications have an approved Initial Ranking.
The Round 13 applications are due by Friday, June 28, 2013. PDR Round 13 application
- Agenda for May 6, 2013 meeting
- Minutes from April 4, 2013 meeting
- Agenda for April 4, 2013 meeting
- Minutes from March 4, 2013 meeting
- Agenda for March 4, 2013 meeting
- Minutes from February 4, 2013 meeting
- Agenda for February 4, 2013 meeting
- Minutes from January 7, 2013 meeting
- Agenda for January 7, 2013 meeting
- Minutes from December 3, 2012
- Agenda December 3, 2012
- Minutes for November 5, 2012 meeting
- Agenda November 5, 2012
- Minutes for October 1, 2012 meeting
- Agenda for October 1, 2012 meeting
Find out more about the program by viewing this power point presentation: PDR.pdf
You may apply to donate a conservation easement on your farm at any time.
Donation Information
Once accepted, the Fayette County Rural Land Management Board and PDR staff will work to complete the recording of the donated conservation easement before the last business day of December of the year in which the application is received.
PDR Program Overview
Fayette County's Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program is the first Agricultural Conservation Easement program by a local government in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Protecting this world famous landscape from urban sprawl has been a community goal for decades. Three major actions are accomplishing this:
- In 1958, Lexington-Fayette County initiated an Urban Service Boundary as a tool to limit development to urban areas served by sanitary sewers.
- In 1999, the minimum lot size in rural Fayette County was raised from 10 acres to 40 acres.
- In 2000, an ordinance was passed creating the Purchase of Development Rights Program and the Fayette County Rural Land Management Board.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government won the 2004 James C. Howland Municipal Enrichment Gold Award from the National League of Cities and CH2M Hill in recognition of contributions made to the enrichment of the urban environment through the Purchase of Development Rights Program.
Program Goals Include:
- In accordance with the Urban County Government Charter and the Rural Land Management Plan (adopted in 1999), the PDR program supports the integrity of the Full Urban Services District. Concentrating growth in an urban center reduces the cost of public services to local government.
- To support the purpose of the Urban Service Boundary (adopted in 1958) as described in the Rural Land Management Plan.
- Protect the agricultural, equine and tourism economies of Fayette County by conserving large areas of farm land.
- Conserve and protect the natural, scenic, open space, historic and agricultural resources of rural Fayette County.
- Use conservation easements to preserve 50,000 acres of rural Fayette County.
- Provide local, state and federal funding over 20 years.
PDR Information
Fayette County Rural Land Management Board, Inc. (RLMB)
Click here for:
Billy Van Pelt, MBA, RLA
PDR Program Manager
101 E. Vine Street, 5th floor
Lexington, KY. 40507
(859) 425-2227
Fax: (859) 425-2274
Email