LEXINGTON, Ky. — The General Government and Planning Committee considered sweeping changes Tuesday to how the city regulates drive-thru facilities and drive-up windows, updating regulations that have remained largely unchanged since 1983.

The proposed zoning ordinance amendments differentiate between drive-up windows — such as those at dry cleaners or pickup restaurants — and drive-thru facilities like banks and quick-service restaurants, each with distinct vehicle stacking requirements. The changes respond to House Bill 443, passed by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2024, which limited the Planning Commission's discretion in development decisions.

According to presentation materials from the meeting, the existing "one-size-fits-all" approach required all drive-thrus to accommodate five stacking spaces regardless of business type. Planning staff noted that some facilities need only one or two spaces while others may require 20 or more.

The proposed regulations would require drive-up windows to stack three vehicles, while bank or pharmacy drive-thru facilities would require three spaces. Quick-service restaurants would need six spaces for the first lane and three for each additional lane. Car washes and self-service facilities have distinct requirements under the new framework.

Planning Services Manager Traci Wade said the updated standards would apply to approximately 90 percent of current drive-thru operations, with heavier-use facilities already exceeding proposed requirements. The regulations also include provisions for pedestrian crossing safety, restricting stacking to prevent vehicles from blocking parking spaces or entering the right-of-way.

Separately, the committee considered the Winchester Road Corridor Study, which examines how transportation and land-use planning can work together to support safer travel and improve neighborhood connections. A public open house on the corridor study is scheduled for Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Charles Young Center Gym.

The committee also addressed data center regulations, an item that has drawn significant public attention as council voted to halt data center approvals until at least October 31, 2026, while reviewing local regulations.