LEXINGTON, Ky. — The General Government and Planning Committee heard updates on short-term rental enforcement and a comprehensive development plan for an industrial area during a meeting July 1 at the Council Chamber.

Brad Cruz, who works in the Division of Revenue overseeing short-term rentals, reported that the city currently has 787 active listings after initially registering nearly 1,300 properties when enforcement began in January 2024. The ordinance, initially adopted in July 2023, requires licensing and imposes occupancy and density restrictions designed to prevent clustering of rentals in residential neighborhoods.

Cruz said the city generated $118,600 in licensing fee revenue this fiscal year, with personnel costs estimated at $60,000 and software expenses at $58,000. The city has issued 61 citations since beginning enforcement, with 52 targeting unlicensed properties and nine addressing nuisance violations related to parking, noise, and trash. Outstanding citations total $59,125, though $19,000 have been paid.

The city also discussed collection challenges, with four properties accounting for $52,400 in outstanding citations and four properties currently subject to liens. Council Member Tom Eblen asked during the meeting about collection efforts on the unpaid citations, and city staff indicated they are pursuing liens on larger violations and using license renewal requirements as leverage for smaller outstanding amounts.

The committee also heard a presentation on the Blue Sky Small Area Plan, a comprehensive planning effort for an industrial area near Interstate 75 and Athens-Boonesboro Road. The area, incorporated into the city's Urban Service Boundary in 2023, includes approximately 150 businesses supporting over 1,000 jobs, with more than 60% in industries paying at least $20 per hour.

Presenters Eve Miller and Sam Castro discussed infrastructure improvements aimed at addressing worker mobility and long-term economic development in the industrial park, which developed primarily in the 1970s and 1980s.

The committee also received an update on the Sense of Place initiative, focusing on preservation of rural Black hamlets and ongoing projects in Cadentown.