Planning Commission - Zoning Items

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Planning Commission held a meeting on July 30, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. ET in the Council Chamber, 2nd Floor LFUCG Government Center, located at 200 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky. The meeting included one agenda item: a public hearing on a zoning ordinance text amendment, which was presented for informational purposes. During the meeting, the Commission heard five public comments from attendees. Two motions were voted on during the session. The meeting provided an opportunity for public input on the proposed zoning ordinance changes through the formal hearing process.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the Commission meeting on July 30, 2026:

• Ivy Barksdale
• Mike Owens
• Judy Worth
• Zach Davis
• Molly Davis
• Larry Forester
• Robin Michler
• Bruce Nicol
• William Wilson

No members were absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The Commission held two roll call votes on data center regulations during the meeting.

Motion to Refer Staff Text with No Recommendation

4:08:04

Bruce Nicol moved to refer the staff's text on data center regulations to the council with no recommendation, seconded by Molly Davis. The motion failed with 2 ayes and 7 nays.

Voting in favor: Bruce Nicol, Molly Davis

Voting against: Ivy Barksdale, Mike Owens, Judy Worth, Zach Davis, Larry Forester, Robin Michler, William Wilson

Motion to Approve Staff Recommendations with Amendments

4:40:43

William Wilson moved to approve the staff's recommendations with amendments, seconded by Frank Penn. The motion passed with 7 ayes and 2 nays.

Voting in favor: Ivy Barksdale, Mike Owens, Judy Worth, Zach Davis, Larry Forester, Robin Michler, William Wilson

Voting against: Bruce Nicol, Molly Davis

Public Comment

Five speakers addressed the Commission during the public comment period, with all remarks focused on data center development and regulation.

Francine Gordon 1:11:05 expressed concern about potential data center development in the community and urged the Commission to adopt stricter regulations for protection.

John Marshall 1:14:18 highlighted the need for decommissioning bonds and called for greater transparency in communications regarding data center projects.

Nathanial Hints 1:16:21 discussed alternative cooling technologies for data centers as a means to reduce environmental impact.

Latonia Jones 1:25:48 expressed opposition to data center development, citing concerns about resource exploitation and negative impacts on the community.

Patrick Mason 1:35:45 presented recommendations from the Environmental Commission, advocating for stricter regulations on data centers to protect local resources.

Contested Items

Data Center Regulations

The Commission faced significant public opposition regarding proposed data center regulations. Community members expressed concerns centered on environmental impact and community well-being. The nature of the disagreement reflected broader concerns about how the regulations would affect local areas and sustainability considerations.

Public Hearing on Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment

The Commission held a public hearing on a proposed text amendment to create regulations for data center uses. 3:03

Key Participants

The discussion involved Daniel Crum, Bruce Nicol, and Molly Davis.

Content and Discussion

The agenda item focused on a proposed zoning ordinance text amendment designed to establish regulatory frameworks governing data center uses within the jurisdiction. The hearing included both a presentation of the amendment and public comments from interested parties, followed by Commission deliberations on the proposed changes.

Outcome

The item was treated as informational, with no final action taken during this hearing. The discussion served to gather input and allow the Commission to consider the proposed amendment before any subsequent votes or decisions.