Title
A Resolution expressing support for and continued commitment to the Purchase of Development Rights Program. [Council Office, Maynard]
Summary
Body
WHEREAS, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (“LFUCG”) adopted the Rural Land Management Plan (“RLMP”) in 1999 as an element of the 1996 Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the RLMP represented a dedicated effort to the planning and management of land uses in our rural area; and
WHEREAS, a cornerstone of the Lexington-Fayette County’s RLMP is the Purchase of Development Rights (”PDR”) program; and
WHEREAS, agriculture is a vital part of the identity, quality of life and economy of Lexington-Fayette County and is a unique industry who’s “factory floor” is irreplaceable prime soils that comprise nearly ninety (90%) percent of the county’s rural area; and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that farmland across the nation is rapidly disappearing; and
WHEREAS, a diverse group of stakeholders joined together and created Lexington-Fayette County’s PDR program in 2000, which has preserved nearly thirty thousand (30,000) acres and been recognized as the most successful program of its kind in the nation and remains the gold standard in agricultural preservation.
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 expresses ongoing support and commitment to the PDR program and its goals.
Section 2 - That the Council of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government hereby finds and denotes that the absence of funding for the PDR program in fiscal year 2019 is due to unique and unforeseen circumstances and in no way is a precedent for future years; and funding in future years shall be considered in the same manner as previous years.
Section 3 - That the Council of the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government remains committed to achieving the goal of the PDR program to preserve 50,000 acres of Fayette’s County’s best agricultural land for future agricultural use and urges the administration to continue processing pending and new applications to move the PDR program toward meeting this goal.
Section 4 - 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