Next Monday, July 15, Fayette County residents are invited to share their thoughts on the Urban Service Boundary (USB) expansion draft designs. The public input session will take place at the Lexington Senior Center (195 Life Ln.) from 2 p.m.–7 p.m.

The USB expansion has been a long-talked about topic, so let's recap.

Details, definitions + dates

Created in 1958 — the first in the US — the USB is a boundary that was established to define where new urban + higher density development can occur in Fayette County. Additionally, it identifies where urban services will be provided. Think: Waste collection, streetlights, and street sweeping.

Around 640 acres on Athens-Boonesboro Road will be a part of the expansion. | Photo by @shoeless.photographer

According to CivicLex, Fayette County as a whole is ~285 square miles: ~85 square miles inside the USB + ~200 square miles outside. In November 2023, the Urban County Council voted to approve the expansion of the USB by 2,800 acres (~4.4 square miles) — the first expansion since 1996.

As a way to organize community input + share information, the Division of Planning created the 2024 Urban Growth Master Plan (UGM). The plan is following three steps:

Gather input + information
Develop concepts + draft plans (we're currently at this step)
Review, check, and finalize the plan

Before heading to the meeting next week, be sure to browse the "initial concept presentation." Pages 36-47 will walk you through draft plans of each of the five areas tabbed for expansion. As a quick refresher, the UGM goals are:

Building successful neighborhoods through varied housing options + smart neighborhood design
Improve transportation networks with complete streets + public transit
Protect the environment by being mindful of our carbon footprint + waterways
Promote social + racial equity through policies, jobs, and transportation accessibility
Create jobs + prosperity by attracting businesses and improving economic mobility

The final plan is set to be revealed in October 2024.