Chronology of Major Planning and Growth Management Actions

1781	First Town Plat
1789	Transylvania Seminary (later University) moved to Lexington from Danville
1831	Lexington Incorporated as a city of approximately 6,000 people Rural county population approximately 15,500 people
19th Century	Kentucky divided into smaller counties, including Fayette County - 284 square miles University of Kentucky founded in Lexington.
1920	County Population - 54,664 First Zoning Ordinance for Residential District
1928	January Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate Bill No. 214 passed - January 25, 1928 Bill allowed for the creation and organization of City Planning and Zoning Commission for cities of the second class
1928 July 27	First City Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment meeting Planning & Zoning Commission Members E. L. McDonald - Chairman James J. O'Brien (Mayor) Prof. G. C. Bassett Dr. A. W. Fortune Prof. Robert D. Hawkins W. C. Wilson Board of Adjustment Members David Ades - Chairman John G. Cramer Thomas S. Scott Len Shouse, Sr. Grover C. Thompson Katherine Hessel - Secretary of the Board
1928 August 20	First citizen to testify at special meeting of Planning Commission is Rev. James W. Gibson
1928 September 6	Temporary Zoning Ordinance passed
1928 September 17	Mr. Morris Levy presented first subdivision plan under Temporary Ordinance for subdivision on Park Avenue at Columbia
1929 June 7	Rules and Regulations for the Government and Control of Subdivisions adopted by unanimous vote of the Planning Commission
1930 May 6	County Population - 68,544 Building Zone Ordinance approved
1931	First Comprehensive Plan Comprehensive Plan of Lexington, Kentucky & Environs
1939	County Zoning - 2-mile “belt” around city
1940	County Population - 78,899
1942	Countywide Zoning
1947	Statement of Principles Governing the Control of Subdivisions; Standards for Platting (Subdivision) Adopted
1948	First Professional Planner hired
1950	County Population - 100,746 Comprehensive Plan Elements - Population Economic base Housing Land use Subdivision Regulations Recreation
1953	Sanitary Sewer Plan for urban growth
1950s	Transportation Plans for Bypass
1958	Master Plan Supplement - 1958 Urban Service Area Boundary created - First in Nation Industrial Development Foundation brings - IBM, Trane and Square D to Lexington First Historic District (H-1) Zoning Overlay - Gratz Park
1960s	Comprehensive Plan Base Studies include: Neighborhood plans Downtown Plan Major Improvements to Kentucky enabling legislation to support, direct planning
1960	County Population - 131,906
1961	Professional Staff increased to seven Comprehensive Planning Program Proposal
1963	First Comprehensive Transportation Plan
1964	Health Department adopts 10-acre requirement for new lots with septic fields
1966	Design Plan for Downtown
1967	Comprehensive Plan A Growing Community - Plan A Plan For Land Use - Land Use Element City and county school districts merge Revised zoning and subdivision regulations includes ten-acre zoning
1969	New Circle Road completed
1970s	Neighborhood and Small Area Plans Census analyses Excellent household projections - inaccurate population per household projections
1970	County Population - 174,323
1971	Comprehensive Countywide zoning map amendment
1973	Comprehensive Plan A Growing Community (coming soon) First Sanitary Sewer “208” Plan
1974	City-County Governments merge
1976	New Aerial photogrametry and improved base mapping by Planning Division
1978	Comprehensive Plan Reports include: Economic Base Analysis Goals and Objectives Planning and Design Criteria Fiscal Analyses of alternative growth scenarios Citizen's Advisory Committee prominent in Comprehensive Plan Update
1980	Comprehensive Plan 1980 Growth Planning System Detailed Future Land Use Map shows entire Urban Service Area County Population - 204,165 Major sanitary sewer extension for growth and problem relief
1980s	Community Development funding emphasizes neighborhood infrastructure and rehabilitation Sanitary Sewer extensions implemented in all developed but unsewered areas Neighborhood plans for inner city areas Comprehensive Code Enforcement in strategic neighborhoods Regional planning through Bluegrass Area Development District (BGADD)
1982	Division of Planning incorporated into Urban County Government
1983	Zoning and Subdivision regulation amendment, including park impact fee Downtown Plan developed as internal working document
1987	Beginning of computerized mapping, leading to Geographic Information System
1988	Mayor chairs Comprehensive Plan Update Committee Growth Planning System (coming soon) Plan includes: Infill and redevelopment policies Urban Service Area Boundary Criteria Detailed land use and boundary change discussions Traffic carrying capacity evaluated with zone changes
1989	Beginning of major greenspace, open space planning and preservation program
1990s	County Population - 224,000 Greenways Plan and Corridor Enhancement Study written, not adopted Inter-county planning agreements begun for transportation corridors and water resource basins Transportation Planning became a two-county effort with Jessamine County
1994	Greenspace Plan adopted as part of Comprehensive Plan Public debate over expansion of the Urban Service Area boundary
1995	Community decision of growth boundary expansion, with detailed planning Detailed inventory and land capability analysis in rural area
1996	Comprehensive Plan 1996 Comprehensive Plan Expansion Area Master Plan - Adopted Rural 40-acre minimum proposal spurs numerous 10-acre lots
1997	Inter-county agreements result in zoning overlay for rural corridor protection
1998	Moratoria on rural lot creation
2000	Rural Service Area Land Management Plan County Population - 260,512 Water Supply Plan adopted and Aquifer Protection Plan underway
2001	Purchase of Development Rights Program (PDR) - $40 million fund Courthouse Area Design Overlay Zone adopted Infill and Redevelopment Study begun
2001	2001 Comprehensive Plan Update
2002	Greenway Master Plan adopted into the 2001 Comprehensive Plan Update Newtown Pike Extension Corridor Plan adopted Greenbrier becomes first neighborhood to implement Neighborhood Design Zoning Overlay (ND-1)
2003	South End Park Urban Village Plan Indian Hills Small Area Plan
2007	2007 Comprehensive Plan Downtown Master Plan Rural Settlement Study Recommendations