u/Mission-Appeal-8990

The Urban County Council will schedule a Special Committee of the Whole (COW) Meeting to receive public comment and discuss zoning rules and regulations related to data centers. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers of the Government Center (200 E. Main Street). 

Fifth District Council Member Liz Sheehan, Chair of the General Government & Planning Committee and sponsor of the data center regulatory review said, “We decided to call a special meeting to hear directly from our neighbors and to continue giving this issue the attention and transparency it deserves. We have been working diligently to craft rules for data centers that fit Lexington’s needs, and we want the public to offer us in-person feedback on these regulations at a more accessible time of day than our typical afternoon meetings.”

The Urban County Council will receive the Planning Commission’s recommendations on how to update local zoning rules and vote to formally schedule the October 6, 2026, Special COW during its August 25 Work Session. Additionally, staff from the Division of Planning are scheduled to give an informational presentation to the General Government & Planning Committee on September 8, 2026.  

Information on the progress of Fayette County’s data center zoning updates is available to the public on the Engage Lexington platform. Residents are encouraged to learn more and submit written feedback by visiting Engage.LexingtonKY.Gov/DataCenters.

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Stay up-to-date on local policy work, ways to engage, and Council news by signing up for the Urban County Council's monthly email newsletter, The Council Comment.

Check out the August 2026 edition that went out this past Friday!

Do you ever wonder how Council gets its work done? Swipe through to learn more about Council's committee structure!

Learn more by visiting: LexingtonKY.gov/Council-Committees

The Urban County Council’s Fall 2026 meeting schedule, all in one spot! Save these for quick reference and stay engaged with your local government.

LFUCG Planning staff has released draft suggestions for local zoning updates to address data centers. The draft will then be reviewed by the Planning Commission before being sent back to Council for final consideration.

Visit Engage.LexingtonKY.gov/DataCenters to learn more!

On June 18, 2026, the Urban County Council voted unanimously to strengthen Lexington's animal care and control ordinance.

The changes help protect pets in extreme weather, improve tethering safety, and streamline the impound process. Swipe for the highlights!

On June 9, 2026, the Urban County Council voted unanimously to institute a moratorium on all data center developments in Fayette County until October 31, 2026, to allow time for further review of local zoning rules and regulations.

Today, June 18, 2026, Council launched an online forum and information hub regarding data center developments on its public input platform, Engage Lexington.

Future updates, draft ordinance language, and opportunities for in-person engagements will be shared via the online platform. Public feedback received through Engage Lexington will be made available to Council Members as they continue to review local policies around data centers.

Learn more at Engage.LexingtonKY.Gov/DataCenters.

On June 9, 2026, the Urban County Council voted unanimously to institute a moratorium on all data center developments in Fayette County until October 31, 2026, to allow time for further review of local zoning rules and regulations.

Today, June 18, 2026, Council launched an online forum and information hub regarding data center developments on its public input platform, Engage Lexington.

Future updates, draft ordinance language, and opportunities for in-person engagements will be shared via the online platform. Public feedback received through Engage Lexington will be made available to Council Members as they continue to review local policies around data centers.

Learn more at Engage.LexingtonKY.Gov/DataCenters.

Check your mail, Lexington!

Undue Medical Debt, the national nonprofit that purchases and abolishes medical debt in partnership with the city, has announced relief for another 2,185 Lexington residents. The value of the outstanding medical debt relieved was $4,850,146.13.

Since the Urban County Council unanimously approved $1 million in October 2024 to fund this initiative, a total of $23,161,094.05 in medical debt has now been eliminated for 11,825 Lexington residents.

Anyone who receives mailed notifications is encouraged to keep their letters as proof that their debts have been eliminated. Learn more at lexingtonky.gov/medicaldebtrelief.

The Urban County Council has approved the operating budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). Each year, Council is responsible for reviewing the Mayor’s proposed budget and passing a balanced budget for the year ahead. Check out a few of the highlights from the FY27 budget, which goes into effect on July 1, 2026.

Council is scheduled to give first reading to the FY27 budget during this evening's Council Meeting.

This would be the first of the two required votes before the budget goes into effect on July 1. You are invited to join in-person at the Government Center (200 E. Main) at 6:00 PM or watch on-demand on LexTV.

The second and final vote is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

Earlier today, Council Members welcomed the 2026 class of Lexington’s Senior Intern Program to Council Chambers!

For 40 years, this program has offered Lexington residents 50 and older a unique, hands-on look at how their local government works. From the legislative process to public safety, budgeting, and more, participants spend the week learning directly from the experts who keep our city running.

This year’s program runs June 1–5, 2026.

Interested in joining the 2027 class? Reach out to your Council Member or our partners in Aging & Disability Services for more information!

Check out some of the highlights from this year's community budget survey!

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped to shape the process. Council must vote to approve the annual budget before it can go into effect on July 1, 2026. Visit Engage Lexington to learn more.

Tune in!

The Urban County Council is meeting to discuss the annual budget. You can watch the meeting live or recorded on LexTV, available on Spectrum channel 185, MetroNet channel 3, or at LexingtonKY.gov/lextv.

Council must approve the annual budget before it goes into effect on July 1, 2026.

Reminder: the Urban County Council is considering an ordinance that would prohibit parking in bike lanes (with some exceptions), and they want to hear from you!

Visit Engage Lexington to review the proposal and take the survey before 11:59 PM tomorrow, May 15, 2026.

The ordinance will be reviewed by the Social Services & Public Safety Committee during its June 9, 2026 meeting.

Share your thoughts on the FY27 budget during tomorrow’s Budget Public Hearing!

The hearing will be held at 6 PM in Council Chambers on the second floor of the Government Center (200 E. Main Street).

Residents can also learn more about the budget process and ways to get involved by visiting Engage Lexington.

Lexington is working to update the way streets are designed and built, and the Council wants your input!

LFUCG’s draft Complete Streets Design Manual is now available for public review. This draft manual would shape how streets are designed in Fayette County, with a focus on safety, accessibility, sustainability, and connectivity for all users.

Residents are invited to:

• Review the draft manual and/or a brief one-page summary that highlights some of the proposed changes.
• Leave comments on the draft manual for staff to review.
• Email your feedback to Council and/or to Planning.
• Share your ideas for what complete streets could look like in Lexington.

Visit: Engage.LexingtonKY.Gov/CompleteStreets