LEXINGTON, Ky. — The city's Planning Commission heard a draft presentation May 21 of a comprehensive plan for the Blue Sky industrial area, marking progress on long-range planning efforts that also included updates on downtown revitalization and debate over solar farms on agricultural land.

Sam Castro of consultant TSW Design presented the Blue Sky Small Area Plan, which covers approximately 303 acres near the intersection of Interstate 75 and Athens-Boonesboro Road. The area, developed primarily in the 1970s and 1980s, is home to about 150 businesses supporting more than 1,000 jobs.

Castro outlined the plan's focus on reimagining the aging industrial park's infrastructure while preserving its industrial character. "This is really about acknowledging that the way industry works has changed," Castro told commissioners, noting the plan aims to support modern industrial operations rather than converting the area to commercial use.

Key recommendations from the plan include adding sidewalks and paths along Athens-Boonesboro Road extending to the Sayre Athletic Complex, developing functional green space for stormwater management, and improving traffic safety at problem intersections. Castro highlighted a three-way stop proposal at the intersection of Cutters Hill and Blue Sky where concrete trucks pose a safety hazard.

The plan also addresses business priorities identified during community engagement. Castro noted that workers want pedestrian access throughout the area and better dining options. "Food definitely came out on top" in a prioritization exercise, he said, followed closely by calls for a reliable power network, which currently experiences outages due to lack of redundancy.

Boyd Sewe, principal planner for long-range planning, updated commissioners on the Downtown Area Master Plan, which is being developed with MKSK as the lead consultant. The planning process includes three community meetings scheduled between October 2025 and spring 2026 to gather feedback on future downtown growth and revitalization.

Zach Davis, Planning Commission chair, reported on the solar work group update, sparking heated discussion about industrial solar installations in agricultural zones. Commissioners debated whether large-scale solar over five acres should be permitted in agricultural zones, with the council having voted in August 2025 to prohibit such installations at that time. The discussion reflects ongoing tension between Lexington's net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050 and concerns about protecting farmland.