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Chronology of Major Planning and Growth Management Actions in Lexington, KY

1781

First Town Plat

Transylvania Seminary (later University) moved to Lexington from Danville

1831 Lexington Incorporated as a city of approximately 6,000 people
Rural county population approximately 15,500 people
19th Century Kentucky divided into smaller counties, including Fayette County - 284 square miles University of Kentucky founded in Lexington.
1920 County Population - 54,664
First Zoning Ordinance for Residential Districts
1928

January 25 - Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate Bill No. 214 passed - allowing the creation and organization of City Planning and Zoning Commission for cities of the second class

July 27 - First City Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment meeting

Planning & Zoning Commission Members
E. L. McDonald - Chairman            James J. O'Brien (Mayor)
Prof. G. C. Bassett                       Dr. A. W. Fortune
Prof. Robert D. Hawkins                W. C. Wilson

Board of Adjustment Members
David Ades - Chairman
John G. Cramer                            Thomas S. Scott
Len Shouse, Sr.                           Grover C. Thompson

Katherine Hessel - Secretary of the Board

August 20, 1928 - First citizen to testify at special meeting of Planning Commission is Rev. James W. Gibson

 

September 6, 1928 – Temporary Zoning Ordinance passed

 

September 17, 1928 - Mr. Morris Levy presented first subdivision plan under Temporary Ordinance for subdivision on Park Avenue at Columbia

1929 June 7, 1929 - Rules and Regulations for the Government and Control of Subdivisions adopted by unanimous vote of the Planning Commission
1930 Census         County Population - 68,544
May 6, 1930 Building Zone Ordinance approved
1931

First Comprehensive Plan
Comprehensive Plan of Lexington Kentucky & Environs

1939 County Zoning includes 2-mile “belt” around city
1940 Census County Population - 78,899
1942 Countywide Zoning
1947

Comprehensive Area Plan for Lexington, Kentucky and Environs

Statement of Principles Governing the Control of Subdivisions; Standards for Platting (Subdivision) Adopted

1948 First Professional Planner hired
1949/50

County Population - 100,746

Master Plan of Lexington and Fayette County Kentucky Elements

1953 Sanitary Sewer Plan for urban growth
1950s Transportation Plans for Bypass

1958

 

Comprehensive Plan

 Master Plan Supplement - 1958

1958 Land Use Map

Urban Service Area Boundary created - First in Nation
Industrial Development Foundation brings - IBM, Trane and Square D to Lexington
First Historic District (H-1) Zoning Overlay - Gratz Park

1960s Comprehensive Plan Base Studies include:
  • Neighborhood plans
  • Downtown Plan
Major Improvements to Kentucky enabling legislation to support, direct planning
1960 Census County Population - 131,906
1961 Professional Staff increased to seven
Comprehensive Planning Program Proposal
1963 First Comprehensive Transportation Plan
1964 Health Department adopts 10-acre requirement for new lots with septic fields
1966 Design Plan for Downtown
1967

Comprehensive Plan

A Growing Community
A Plan For Land Use

1967 Land Use Map

Revised zoning and subdivision regulations includes ten-acre rural lot zoning

1969 New Circle Road completed
1970s Neighborhood and Small Area Plans
1970 County Population - 174,323
1971 Comprehensive Countywide zoning map amendment
1973

Comprehensive Plan

 1973 Update of A Growing Community

1973 Land Use Map

Comprehensive Countywide Zoning Map Amendment
First Sanitary Sewer “208” Plan

1974 City-County Governments merge
1976 New Aerial photogrametry and improved base mapping by Planning Division
1978 Comprehensive Plan Reports
  • Economic Base Analysis
  • Goals and Objectives
  • Planning and Design Criteria
  • Fiscal Analyses of alternative growth scenarios
Citizen's Advisory Committee prominent in Comprehensive Plan Update
1980

1980 Comprehensive Plan

Growth Planning System

Detailed Future Land Use Map shows entire Urban Service Area

County Population - 204,165

1980s

Community Development funding emphasizes neighborhood infrastructure and rehabilitation

Sanitary Sewer extensions implemented in all developed but unsewered areas

Neighborhood plans for inner city areas Comprehensive Code Enforcement in strategic neighborhoods Regional planning through Bluegrass Area Development District (BGADD)

1982 Division of Planning incorporated into Urban County Government
1983 Zoning and Subdivision regulation amendment, including park impact fee Downtown Plan developed as internal working document
1987 Beginning of computerized mapping, leading to Geographic Information System
1988

Comprehensive Plan Update

Growth Planning System

  • Infill and redevelopment policies
  • Urban Service Area Boundary Criteria
  • Detailed land use and boundary change discussions

1988 Land Use Map

Traffic carrying capacity evaluated with zone changes
1989 Beginning of greenspace, open space planning and preservation program
1990     County Population - 224,000
1990s

Aylesford - East University Small Area Plan - 1991

Greenways Plan and Corridor Enhancement Study written

Inter-county planning agreements begun for transportation corridors and water resource basins

Transportation Planning became a two-county effort with Jessamine County

1994 Greenspace Plan adopted as part of Comprehensive Plan
Public debate over expansion of the Urban Service Area boundary
1995

Community decision of growth boundary expansion, with detailed planning
Detailed inventory and land capability analysis in rural area

Paris Pike Small Area Plan

1996

1996 Comprehensive Plan 

1996 Land Use Map

Expansion Area Master Plan

Rural 40-acre minimum proposal spurs numerous 10-acre lots
1997 Inter-county agreements result in zoning overlay for rural corridor protection
2000 Census County Population - 260,512
2000

Rural Service Area Land Management Plan

Water Supply Plan adopted and Aquifer Protection Plan begins

2001

Purchase of Development Rights Program (PDR) - $40 million fund

Courthouse Area Design Overlay Zone 

Infill and Redevelopment Study begins

2001 2001 Comprehensive Plan Update
2002

Greenway Master Plan adopted as part of the 2001 Comprehensive Plan

Newtown Pike Extension Corridor Plan
Newtown Pike Extension Land Use Map

Greenbrier becomes first neighborhood to implement Neighborhood Design Zoning Overlay (ND-1)

2003

South End Park Urban Village Plan

Indian Hills Small Area Plan

2007

2007 Comprehensive Plan

Downtown Master Plan

Rural Settlement Study Recommendations                                             

2009

 

 

 

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2010

Central Sector Small Area Plan

East End Small Area Plan

South Nicholasville Road Small Area Plan

   

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Summary Report - Division of Planning Customer Survey                     

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Last updated: 11/6/2012 3:51:59 PM