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A Resolution referring to the Lexington-Fayette County Planning Commission a proposal to create a separate zoning category for data centers as an exclusive use wherever the data center serves as the principal use, and recommend regulations pertaining to data centers operating as an accessory use, in recognition that emerging data center uses have specific characteristics that do not readily permit them to be classified as principal uses in ordinary Agricultural, Residential, Business, Professional Office, or Industrial zones, in order to ensure proper integration and distribution of this land use in Lexington-Fayette County, in compliance with the pillars of equity and sustainability set forth in the 2045 Comprehensive Plan. [Council Office, Hall]
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WHEREAS, at a special Urban County Council Committee of the Whole meeting held on October 6, 2026, specifically for the purpose of discussing the regulation of data centers, the Council heard public input on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Planning Commission’s proposed zoning Ordinance text amendment regulating data centers; and,
WHEREAS, numerous members of the public expressed concerns that the proposed text amendment May result in inequitable distribution of data centers as a land use within Lexington-Fayette County; and,
WHEREAS, the Council expressed desire to refer an alternative proposal to the Planning Commission to create a separate zoning category for data centers as an exclusive use wherever the data center serves as the principal use, and recommend regulations pertaining to data centers operating as an accessory use, in order to ensure proper integration and distribution of this land use in Lexington-Fayette County, and further voted to place a Resolution referring this proposal on the docket for October 8, 2026, reflecting Council’s desire to take the actions set forth herein, and now desires to ratify the actions taken by the Council at the Committee of the Whole meeting held on October 6, 2026.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT:
Section 1 - That the actions taken by the Council at the special Committee of the Whole meeting held on October 6, 2026 be and hereby are ratified as set forth herein.
Section 2 - That a proposal to create a separate zoning category for data centers as an exclusive use wherever the data center serves as the principal use, and to recommend regulations pertaining to data centers operating as an accessory use, is hereby referred to the Lexington-Fayette County Planning Commission by the Urban County Council, in recognition that emerging data center uses have specific characteristics that do not readily permit them to be classified as principal uses in ordinary agricultural, residential, business, professional office, or industrial zones, in order to ensure proper integration and distribution of this land use in Lexington-Fayette County in compliance with the pillars of equity and sustainability set forth in the 2045 Comprehensive Plan.
Section 3 - That this Resolution shall become effective on the date of its passage.
PASSED URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL:
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MAYOR
ATTEST:
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CLERK OF URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL
0886-26:BGS:4921-6319-5607, v. 1