Title
A Resolution affirming the priority of issues related to housing scarcity and affordability and urging the Div. of Planning to consider any and all tools available to address housing scarcity in Lexington-Fayette County when developing recommendations for Goals and Objectives for the 2023 Comprehensive Plan Update. [Council Office, Maynard]
Body
WHEREAS, Lexington-Fayette County, is recognized for its planning and development practices in creating a desirable place to live, work and experience a desirable quality of life; and
WHEREAS, dedicated, collaborative, balanced and responsible land use planning in Lexington-Fayette County will help preserve the community as a desirable place to live and work; and
WHEREAS, 2020 has been a year of great social and economic change, it is important to consider how the current 2018 Comprehensive Plan and the 2023 Comprehensive Plan Update can address urgent needs of the community that have arisen and/or moved to the forefront during this unprecedented time; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor’s Commission for Racial Justice and Equality recommended that “the city must put in place mechanisms to keep housing affordable. It is possible to stem the tide of gentrification, while creating more housing opportunity for all Lexingtonians.” The Commission further found that the desirability to live in Lexington combined with an increasing scarcity of housing causes an increase in median housing prices, which has increased by 37 percent for single family residences since 2014. The Commission noted that the forces for gentrification become more powerful as median sales prices for housing rise; and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent to address housing scarcity in order to successfully address issues of displacement and gentrification, as well as affordability in our community;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT:
Section 1 - That the Council of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government hereby affirms the priority of forcefully addressing the underlying issues related to housing scarcity and affordability and urges the Division of Planning to consider any and all tools available to address housing scarcity in Lexington-Fayette County when developing recommendations for Goals and Objectives for the 2023 Comprehensive Plan Update.
Section 2 - That this Resolution shall become effective on the date of its passage.
PASSED URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL:
___________________________________
MAYOR
ATTEST:
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CLERK OF URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL
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