Rural Land Management Board

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government board met at 3:00 PM, with Gloria presiding over the session. The meeting covered four agenda items, all of which were informational in nature, addressing topics related to agricultural land use and policy: the Small Farm Easement Program, signage for farms, short-term rentals in agricultural zones, and a solar farms legislation update. Across the session, eight motions and votes were taken. No public comments were heard during the meeting.

Attendance

The following members were present at the March 26, 2025 Board meeting:

• Gloria
• Beth
• Phil Meyer
• Margaret
• Robert
• Jim Coleman
• Mary Quinn *(arrived late)*
• Phil Hager
• Will
• Sean
• Tracy

No members were absent. Mary Quinn was present but arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Board took eight votes during the March 26, 2025 meeting, all of which passed unanimously.

• Approve Minutes 15:20 — Moved by Phil, seconded by Jim. The Board approved the minutes as sent. The vote was 8 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstention. Voting in favor: Gloria, Beth, Phil Meyer, Margaret, Robert, Jim Coleman, Mary Quinn, and Phil Hager.

• Authorize Application Ranking 17:58 — Moved by Margaret, seconded by Robert. The Board authorized Beth to rank applications and send the top 5 to appraisers. The vote was 8–0 with no abstentions.

• Allocate Additional Grant Funds for Signs 26:21 — Moved by Margaret, seconded by Phil Meyer. The Board approved using an additional $3,000 from grant funds for signs, pending grant fund approval. The vote was 8–0 with no abstentions.

• Write Letter to Federal Partners About Farmstays 36:37 — Seconded by Margaret (mover not recorded). The Board approved writing a letter to federal partners regarding farmstays. The vote was 8–0 with no abstentions.

• Enter Closed Session 45:51 — Moved by Margaret (second not recorded). The Board voted to enter closed session. The vote was 8–0 with no abstentions.

• Return to Open Session 1:01:44 — Moved by Phil Meyer (second not recorded). The Board voted to return to open session. The vote was 8–0 with no abstentions.

• Authorize Appraisals for Two Farms 1:02:18 — Moved by Margaret, seconded by Robert. The Board authorized Beth to continue with appraisals for two farms. The vote was 8–0 with no abstentions.

• Adjourn Meeting 1:20:04 — Moved by Mary Quinn, seconded by Jim Coleman. The Board voted to adjourn. The vote was 8–0 with no abstentions.

All eight votes carried unanimously. The same eight members — Gloria, Beth, Phil Meyer, Margaret, Robert, Jim Coleman, Mary Quinn, and Phil Hager — voted in favor on each motion.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Board addressed one financial item during the March 26, 2025 meeting.

• Farm Inspection Payment: The Board approved a payment of $1,600 to Charlie Farmer for farm inspections. No contract identifier or resolution number was associated with this item in the meeting record.

Contested Items

• Short Term Rentals in Agricultural Zones: The Board took up the question of regulating short-term rentals in agricultural zones, with the central point of contention being whether local government or the state should have authority over such regulations. Community members and stakeholders participated in the discussion, with various parties advocating for local jurisdiction over short-term rental rules rather than deferring to state-level control. No outcome or resolution is recorded in the available data for this item.

Small Farm Easement Program Update

5:26

The Board received an informational update on the progress of the Small Farm Easement Program under Agenda Item 8. Key speakers on this item were Gloria and Beth.

The discussion covered two primary areas:

• Application volume: The number of applications received to date under the program was reported, giving the Board a sense of current participation and interest levels.
• Online application challenges: Concerns were raised regarding difficulties with the online application process, which has presented obstacles for prospective applicants navigating the program.

The item was presented for informational purposes, and no formal action or vote was taken by the Board. The update appears intended to keep Board members apprised of where the program stands and to surface any operational issues — particularly around the accessibility and functionality of the online application system — that may need to be addressed going forward.

*Note: Specific figures for the number of applications received, as well as the precise nature of the technical or procedural challenges with the online application process, were not included in the available structured data for this item.*

Signage for Farms

19:03

The board held a discussion regarding the need for new signs for farms, noting that costs have increased since 2019. Key speakers on this item were Beth and Phil Meyer.

The discussion centered on the rising expense of farm signage compared to what had previously been budgeted or paid, with the board considering how to address the cost difference. One option raised during the discussion was the potential use of grant funds to cover the additional costs beyond the original pricing.

No formal vote or binding decision was recorded on this item, and it was treated as informational in nature.

Short Term Rentals in Agricultural Zones

26:57

The Board took up Agenda Item 10, an informational discussion on short-term rentals in agricultural zones, focusing on legislative actions and the tension between local control and state regulation.

Key speakers on this item included Mary Quinn and Tracy, who led the discussion.

The conversation centered on how state-level legislative activity may affect the ability of local jurisdictions to regulate short-term rentals within agricultural zones. The core issue debated was the balance between local governments' authority to set their own rules governing short-term rentals and the potential for state regulation to preempt or limit that local control.

No formal action was taken on this item, as it was presented for informational purposes only.

Solar Farms Legislation Update

36:37

The Board received an informational update on the status of solar farm legislation and its potential implications for local control and zoning authority. This item was presented as a discussion, with Tracy and Will identified as the key speakers.

The update focused on the current legislative landscape surrounding solar farm development and what emerging or pending legislation could mean for the county's ability to regulate and zone solar farm projects at the local level. The discussion centered on keeping the Board informed of developments that may affect local decision-making authority in this area.

No formal action was taken on this item, as it was presented for informational purposes only.