LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Urban County Council advanced several significant measures at its May 28 meeting, including legislation to abolish the Opioid Abatement Commission and approve expansion of the Red Mile Development Area's tax increment financing district.

In a second reading, the council voted to repeal Article LI of Chapter 2 of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Code of Ordinances, dissolving the Opioid Abatement Commission. The commission was created to recommend appropriate uses for proceeds from National Opioid Litigation settlements, which provide Lexington with approximately $30 million over 18 years.

The council also approved an ordinance to expand the Red Mile Development Area's tax increment financing district without changing the list of approved public infrastructure improvements or their cost. The expansion is scheduled for a public hearing on June 4 at 6 p.m. Tax increment financing is a state program that allows developers to apply newly generated tax revenue to pay for projects' public infrastructure.

The council advanced multiple zoning change requests to first reading. The changes include rezoning 0.368 acres at the Anderson Andover Country Club on Country Club Drive from townhouse residential to neighborhood business; rezoning 5.45 acres at Clays Mill Road Baptist Church from single-family residential to medium-density residential; and rezoning 0.6049 acres at 456 East High Street occupied by Bread and Roses, LLC from professional office to neighborhood business. All zoning requests are scheduled for hearings by July 22.

Additionally, the council approved several spending requests for the next city budget, including $135,098 for additional building security in city hall and $1.5 million for ADA compliance improvements. The council also approved the FY2027 budget for LexTran, the city's transit authority.