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Council Work Session

August 19, 2025 · Council · 30,806 words

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Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on August 19, 2025, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting covered 2 agenda items, the most significant of which was a set of Solar Zoning Ordinance Amendments, which was approved by the Council. The meeting also included a public comment period focused on issues on the agenda. Over the course of the meeting, the Council heard 5 public comments and conducted 6 motions and votes.

Attendance

All 14 council members were present at the August 19, 2025 Council meeting. No members were absent or late.

Present: Wu, Brown, Ellinger II, Morton, Lynch, LeGris, Curtis, Sheehan, Hale, Beasley, Baxter, Sevigny, Reynolds, and Boone.

Votes and Decisions

Move New Business to Top of Agenda 3:56 Motioned by Wu, seconded by Morton. Passed by voice vote.

Approve New Business 10:54 Motioned by Ellinger, seconded by Reynolds. Passed by voice vote.

Amendment: 1% Cap on Agricultural Land (Solar Zoning Ordinance) 2:22:02 Motioned by Hale, seconded by Sheehan. Passed 9–5 by roll call vote. - Ayes (9): Wu, Brown, Ellinger II, Morton, Lynch, Curtis, Sheehan, Reynolds, Boone - Nays (5): Baxter, Savigny, Hale, Beasley, LeGris

Amendment: Vegetative Cover Requirements (Solar Zoning Ordinance) 2:36:22 Motioned by Curtis, seconded by Morton. Passed 8–6 by roll call vote. - Ayes (8): Wu, Brown, Ellinger II, Morton, Lynch, Curtis, Sheehan, Reynolds - Nays (6): Baxter, Savigny, Hale, Beasley, LeGris, Boone

Amendment: Small-Scale Solar as Conditional Use in Residential Zones (Solar Zoning Ordinance) 3:01:27 Motioned by Savigny. Passed 9–5 by roll call vote. - Ayes (9): Wu, Brown, Ellinger II, Morton, Lynch, Curtis, Sheehan, Reynolds, Boone - Nays (5): Baxter, Savigny, Hale, Beasley, LeGris

Final Vote: Solar Zoning Ordinance as Amended 3:34:57 Passed unanimously 14–0 by roll call vote. - Ayes (14): Wu, Brown, Ellinger II, Morton, Lynch, Curtis, Sheehan, Reynolds, Boone, Baxter, Savigny, Hale, Beasley, LeGris - Nays: None

The meeting's most significant action was the adoption of the amended solar zoning ordinance, which incorporated three amendments debated at length during the session. While individual amendments drew divided votes — with Baxter, Savigny, Hale, Beasley, and LeGris consistently voting against the agricultural land cap and residential conditional use amendments — the full Council voted unanimously in favor of the final ordinance as amended.

Public Comment

Five members of the public addressed the Council during the comment period, all speaking to proposed solar zoning amendments. 11:57

  • Lane Boldman spoke in support of the solar zoning amendments, emphasizing the importance of agrivoltaics and the broader need for clean energy. 11:57
  • Judith Humble also expressed support, specifically backing the amendment that would allow solar development on 2% of agricultural land. She cited climate change impacts on farming as a key reason for her position. 15:47
  • Robert James took an opposing view, arguing against industrial-scale solar development in rural areas. He advocated instead for siting solar installations on existing buildings and brownfields rather than agricultural land. 19:02
  • Aaron Michael similarly opposed placing solar on farmland, and called for urban solar initiatives focused on rooftops and parking lots as preferable alternatives. 21:06
  • Matt Partymiller offered a critical perspective on the proposed amendment itself, arguing that as written it would discourage solar development. He emphasized the health and environmental benefits of expanding solar energy. 24:15

The comments reflected a divide between speakers who supported the amendments as a path toward clean energy and those who opposed rural or agricultural land as an appropriate location for large-scale solar, with several opponents pointing to existing developed sites as better alternatives.

Contested Items

  • Solar Zoning Ordinance Amendments: The council was divided over proposed amendments to the solar zoning ordinance, with disagreements centering on issues of land use and environmental protections. The item produced multiple split votes, reflecting differing opinions among council members on how to balance solar energy development with other land use and environmental considerations. No further detail on the specific vote tallies, the positions of individual council members, or the final outcome of the amendments is available in the provided record.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

11:26

The Council heard public comments related to items on the agenda, with discussion focused on the proposed solar zoning amendments. Five members of the public addressed the Council on this topic: Lane Boldman, Judith Humble, Robert James, Aaron Michael, and Matt Partymiller.

Speakers offered a range of perspectives, with comments both in support of and in opposition to the proposed changes. The public comment period was informational in nature, and no action was taken as a result of the testimony provided.

Solar Zoning Ordinance Amendments

2:22:02

The Council took up a series of amendments to the solar zoning ordinance, with discussion centered on two primary issues: caps on agricultural land use for solar development and vegetative cover requirements.

Key speakers during the discussion included Savigny, Sheehan, Curtis, and Hale. The Council debated the specifics of the proposed amendments, including how much agricultural land could be devoted to solar installations and what standards would govern vegetative cover on solar sites.

The ordinance amendments were ultimately approved by the Council.

*Note: Additional detail on individual amendment provisions, vote tallies, and the specific arguments raised by each speaker was not available in the source data for this meeting.*

Decisions

  • Motion — passed (0-0): place on the docket for the August 28, 2025 Council Meeting, a resolution establishing the Forest Avenue Residential Parking Permit Program
  • Motion — passed (0-0): approve the August 12, 2025 Work Session Summary
  • Motion — passed (0-0): approve New Business
  • Motion — passed (0-0): approve Council Capital Projects
  • Motion — passed (0-0): place on the August 28, 2025 Council Meeting docket for first reading, an ordinance for Solar Energy Systems (ZOTA-24-00003), as amended at the July 1, 2025 General Government and Planning Committee Meeting
  • Motion — passed (0-0): amend the ZOTA, Sec. 31-6 to add: (f) Ground Cover within the Agricultural Zones: Ground Mounted Solar Energy Systems within the Agricultural Zones shall utilize vegetative ground cover underneath the panels, and the project area must contain a minimum of eighty-five percent (85%) vegetative coverage; and, (g) No more than 2% of land outside the Urban Services area can be used for Conditionally Permitted or Exempt Ground Mounted SES’s, as amended
  • Motion — passed (31-6): amend the ZOTA, Sec. 31-6 (g) to read: No more than 1% of the total land in Fayette County can be used for Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Energy Systems in the agricultural areas
  • Motion — passed (31-6): amend the ZOTA, Sec. 31-6 (h) to add: For any Large Scale SES located in an A-R or A-U zone, there shall be a vegetative cover requirement and applicant shall provide to the Directors of the Divisions of Planning, Building Inspection, and Environmental Services, and the Directors' authorized agents of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, a Land Management Plan which shall be reviewed and updated, if appropriate, every five (5) years at the same time as the review of the Decommissioning Plan. A Land Management Plan shall include: baseline soil conditions, periodic evaluation of soil conditions, pasture and other ground cover composition, fertilization, pest control, livestock utilization, soil compaction minimization for staging areas, the decompaction and restoration of all temporary roads and installation staging areas, fencing and access control. The Land Management Plan shall also include a description of the measures that will be taken to minimize erosion and sedimentation, and to promptly stabilize and revegetate any disturbed areas with native vegetation
  • Motion — passed (0-0): amend the ZOTA, Sec. 31-4, to change both, small scale and intermediate scale, to accessory use in the A-R, A-B, A-N, and A-U zones, as amended
  • Motion — passed (0-0): amend the ZOTA, Sec. 31-4, to change the intermediate scale to conditional use in the A-R, A-B, A-N, and A-U zones
  • Motion — passed (0-0): amend the ZOTA, Sec. 31-4, to change the language for Ground Mounted Small Scale in Residential Zones, from small scale accessory use to conditional use permit
  • Motion — passed (0-0): amend the ZOTA to add Section 31-7. Conditional Use Permit Application Requirements, as presented at the July 1, 2025 General Government and Planning Committee Meeting and as displayed on the screen, as amended
  • Motion — passed (31-7): amend the ZOTA, Section 31-7(a)(10) to read: For Conditional Use Permits for SES within an Agricultural zone, the Board shall consider the impact of the proposal on the existing soils and topography, as well as the compatibility of the proposed SES with agricultural use of the land. Developments should work with the existing topography, with grading, compaction, and tree removal minimized to extent possible. When grading is approved, topsoil shall be retained on-site and re-established as a part of the decommissioning plan
  • Motion — passed (31-7): amend the ZOTA, Section 31-7(a) to add: (12) For Conditional Use Permits for large scale SES, the Board of Adjustment shall acknowledge the impact of the proposal and benefits it may have on the community, including any Community Benefits Plan (CBP) in place. (i.) The applicant may enter into a Community Benefits Plan with the city or one or more community-based organizations within Lexington-Fayette Urban County. (ii.) The amount suggested for the CBP is $750/megawatt sold, annually, for 15 years. (iii.) The Community Benefits Plan shall prioritize alleviating energy costs to low-income households
  • Motion — passed (0-0): amend the ZOTA, Sec. 31-4 to read: A: Accessory Use. Within the urban zones, Ground mounted SES may only qualify as accessory if the total area of the system is less than fifty (50) percent of the floor area of the principal structures on the lot. Within the Agricultural Zones, accessory Ground Mounted SES shall only be allowed if the total area of the system is less than fifty (50) percent of the area of the property
  • Motion — passed (0-0): place Community Benefits Agreements in the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee
  • Motion — passed (0-0): place Article VI. of the Code of Ordinances related to contractors in the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee for a comprehensive review of all sections, and a report back to Council of any recommendations, amendments, updates, or any other actions deemed necessary
  • Motion — passed (0-0): adjourn at 6:43 p.m