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The Bluegrass Region:  Proposals for Future Growth 
GOALS AND PLANNING TOOLS TO GUIDE REGIONAL GROWTH
IN THE INNER BLUEGRASS

I.  GOAL:   Preserve agricultural core of the Inner Bluegrass Region.

PLANNING TOOLS:
 
A.  PDR program to purchase and maintain a contiguous agricultural core:
  •  Qualify land for PDR using Land Value Matrix (see ***Appendix)
  •  40+ acre minimum lot sizes in rural areas
  •  Conservation easements
  •  Increase density in urban areas to relieve rural development pressures
  •  Propose new development areas
    		•

    Criteria for new development:
  •  Interstate access/major highways
  •  Substantial greenbelt between developed areas
  •  Not located in prime agricultural soil areas
  •  No dramatic impact on natural resources
  •  Ease of sewerability
  •  Adequate water supply
  •  Encourage development on slopes that are marginal for agriculture
  •  Regional Loop Road system to attract and distribute growth away from the agricultural core and other finite Bluegrass resources
    		•

    Criteria for Regional Loop Road system:
  • Use existing roads to link regions, i.e., interstates
  • Lateral interconnection between regional towns
  • Allow greenspace to pay for itself as greenspace by allowing new uses in agricultural areas

    •     - corporate headquarters
        - research facilities
        - bed & breakfast establishments

    B.  Keep farmers farming
  • Develop an information based campaign to educate local officials about the total economic impact of agriculture on the region
  • Develop coordinated programs to help farmers increase off-farm income, e.g., farmer’s market
  • Develop policies to foster agricultural diversity
    		•

    C.  Encourage infrastructure development
  • Create Bluegrass Agriculture Development Association (similar to Chamber of Commerce) to champion preservation and development in a responsible manner
    		•

    D.  Promote opportunities for rural tourism:
  • Driving tours
  • Pick-your-own fields, e.g., strawberries, pumpkins
  • Develop bike and hiking trails
    		•

     
    II.  GOAL: Preserve the acreage currently used by the equine industry and promote future equine industry growth in the region.

    PLANNING TOOLS:

    A.  Define areas best suited and more efficiently used by equine industry rather than new residential and commercial development

    Criteria for horse farm potential:

  •   Appropriate soils and slopes
  •   Appropriate adjacent land uses
  •   Access and interconnection within region for efficient breeding and transportation
    		•

    B. Plan efficient long-term buffers to existing horse farms to prevent incompatible adjacent residential and commercial use

    C.  Develop a multi-county planning commission to establish regulations for preservation of the Equine Resource Area

     
    III.  GOAL:   Protect rural corridors from visual evidence of suburban development.

    PLANNING TOOLS:

    A.  Designation of more scenic roads and corridors
    B.  PDR for properties adjacent to major corridors
    C.  40+ acre minimum lot sizes beyond urban areas
    D.  Conservation easements
    E.  Identification of corridors suitable for expansion and increased residential and commercial development
    F.  Create commercial centers as an alternative to “strip development”

     
    IV.  GOAL:   Preservation of the cultural landscape of the Bluegrass Region.

    PLANNING TOOLS:

    A.  Use Land Value Matrix (see ***Appendix) to determine areas of greatest cultural importance and need for protection
    B.  PDR for culturally significant properties
    C.  Identify areas eligible for federal/state money, e.g., ISTEA funding

     
    V.  GOAL:   Protect natural resources from the effects of uncontrolled development.

    PLANNING TOOLS:

    A.  Use Land Value Matrix (see ***Appendix) to determine relative importance of resources and need for protection

  • Natural Resource Conservation Districts
  • Purchase of parkland by federal, state, and local governments
  • Conservation easements

    •  

     

    B.  Preservation zoning districts allowing certain low impact uses:

  • bed & breakfast establishments
  • nature sanctuaries
  • limited residential use
    		•

     
    VI.  GOAL:  Maintain greenspace and edges between communities to maintain separate identities for regional towns.

    PLANNING TOOLS:

    A.  PDR for areas identified as strategic landscapes for edges and greenbelts (see ***Appendix for strategic landscape map)
    B.  40+ acre minimum lot sizes
    C.  Higher densities in urban areas to decrease pressure on edges and greenbelts

     
    VII.  GOAL:   Encourage more efficient use of urban service boundary.

    PLANNING TOOLS:

    A.  Maximize density within Urban Service Area

  • Utilize environmental master planning and traditional planning principles to guide efficient development

    • B.  Identify sites with infill potential
  • Designate and promote infill projects in certain areas with tax incentives for developers
    		•

     
    VIII.  GOAL:   Establish, coordinate and maintain regional planning cooperative efforts.

    PLANNING TOOLS:

    A.  Develop better communication mechanisms between county government agencies in the region
    B.  Develop a regional planning commission to coordinate projects with regional impacts
    C.  Develop a regional planning commission for the Equine Resource Area (ERA), focused on resource based planning

    Resources and the
    Equine Industry
    Economic Impact 
    of Agriculture
     Cultural Identity 
    of the Region 
     Impact of Future
    Development
    Risks to the 
    Region
    Proposals for
    Future Growth