LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington Planning Commission approved a zoning amendment that would allow Goodwill Kentucky to operate attended donation centers focused exclusively on drop-off and sorting operations, without requiring traditional retail components.

The proposed text amendment creates a new definition for attended donation centers and allows them as principal uses in commercial zones including B3, B4, and B6P, while permitting them as conditional uses in neighborhood business zones adjacent to arterial roadways. The centers operate as donation-only facilities where friendly attendants help unload items and prepare them for distribution, making it easier for community members to contribute.

Adam Haley, senior director of external affairs at Goodwill Kentucky, told commissioners that the organization operates 70 retail stores and 12 opportunity centers across Kentucky, generating nearly $127 million annually in wages for program staff. About 81 percent of those wages support individuals disconnected from the workforce, affected by systemic poverty, or involved in the criminal justice system, Haley said.

Haley emphasized that donations power the nonprofit's job training and career services. "Frequency and convenience are key" to donations, he said, explaining that the proposed centers address that need. Louisville's three existing attended donation centers account for over 200 donations daily, demonstrating demand.

The staff recommendation deviated slightly from Goodwill's initial proposal. Planning staff determined that allowing donation-only facilities in the B1 neighborhood business zone was inappropriate for areas intended to meet everyday residential needs, but supported the use in more intense commercial zones. The modified plan maintains retail locations as options where drop-off components can be co-located.

The commission also postponed several development proposals, including applications from OK Gentry, Ball Homes, Regency Holdings 3, and Anderson Communities, allowing applicants time to revise plans following staff consultations.