Our current storm water system is defunct.

In short, we have serious flooding and storm water pollution problems.
-- Neighborhood Association Sanitary Sewer Report, 1999

Lexington uses detention and retention basins to control flooding and storm water filtration in its neighborhoods. Because many new homes are built on extremely small lots with poor drainage, it is essential they do their job.
-- LFUCG Clean Water Task Force, 2006

Yet, the city has not had enough money to thoroughly maintain these basins.

So, when it rains, many of these basins don’t absorb or filter a lot of water. Polluted run-off then floods basements, and nearby streams.
-- Neighborhood Association Sanitary Sewer Report, 1999

On top of this problem, the amount of pavement and other impermeable surfaces have increased in Fayette County.

Simply stated, there is not enough “greenspace” to absorb and filter storm water run-off when it rains. So homes and creeks are regularly flooded and washed out in inclement weather.
-- LFUCG Clean Water Task Force, 2006

In addition, the LFUCG Division of Engineering does not monitor the stormwater discharge from rural activity centers, such as Bluegrass Airport and Bluesky Industrial Park, into Fayette County creeks and streams. The stormwater management program only applies to those properties within the urban services area.
-- LFUCG Stormwater Oversight Committee, 2006

According to local ordinace,  LFUCG has a duty to regulate the pollution of our natural streams and rivers. However, our local government does not regulate the storm water discharge from rural activity centers.
-- LFUCG Stormwater Oversight Committee, 2006

Over 70% of Fayette County streams that have been assessed by the Kentucky Division of Water are considered impaired and polluted.
-- LFUCG Clean Water Task Force Committee

We have leaking sewer lines and pipes.

What does that mean? It means that storm water gets into our sewer system through leaky pipes.
-- LFUCG Division of Sanitary Sewers, 2006

So, our wastewater plants end up treating sewage AND storm water.
-- Neighborhood Association Sanitary Sewer Report, 1999

When we have a lot of rain, our treatment plants operate at over 100% capacity. Pressure in sewer pipes build up, and often explode, dumping raw sewage near, or sometimes in, people’s homes.
-- LFUCG Sanitary Sewer Oversight Committee, 2006

 As you can imagine, this is a huge health hazard.
-- Neighborhood Association Sanitary Sewer Report, 1999

On the other hand, when we are in a draught, our treatment plants operate below maximum capacity.
-- LFUCG Sanitary Sewer Oversight Committee, 2006

Last year alone, Lex Call received 2,873 calls reporting sewer and storm water problems.
-- 2005 Lex Call phone call database

Simply stated, we cannot safely support new development with a system that is crippled with fluctuating treatment capacities and leaky pipes.

In good conscience, the city must address these problems before masking them with additional sewer lines and new wastewater treatment facilities.

 

Apparently, the EPA has noticed our sewer, storm water, and water quality problems, and by all accounts, we are facing sanctions for violating the 1972 Clean Water Act.

Cities like Louisville and Knoxville are dealing with these sanctions.

And, according to the Department of Justice, Louisville will spend over $500 million, and Knoxville around $530 million to clean up their act.
-- 7/24/05 Department of Justice Press Release

Before adding new development and facilities to this system, we are potentially facing hundreds of millions of dollars to repair our sewer and storm water operation.
-- 7/24/05 Department of Justice Press Release

The hardworking citizens of Fayette County will be covering the bill, either by paying increased water user fees or taxes.

Although developer exactions cover the cost of establishing sewer lines and storm water in expansion area developments, they DO NOT pay for the overarching costs of fixing our overall water treatment system or cleaning our polluted waterways.
-- LFUCG Division of Planning, 2006

It will cost, on average, $16,529.00/acre to lay new sewer lines.

Despite our current storm water and sanitary sewer problems, if we decide to expand the urban service boundary, it will cost, on average, $16,529.00/acre to lay new sewer lines. (--2006 Rural Sanitary Sewer Capability Study.)  This number covers just sewer lines, not major roadway improvements, police, fire, schools, or other infrastructural needs.
-- Rural Sanitary Sewer Capability Study, 2006

It will cost $117 million or $16,529 an acre to lay sewer lines in proposed 7,000 acre expansion area.

-- Rural Sanitary Sewer Capability Study, 2006

It is unclear who will be covering these astronomical costs. If developers pay for them in exaction fees, they will have to make this money up somewhere-perhaps in the form of increased home prices.

Residential properties create a net loss for the city.

Residential properties create a net loss for the city because of the urban services they require. For instance, in 1998, for every dollar of revenue the city gained from residential development, it spent $1.69 to service the property.
-- American Farmland Trust “The Cost of Community Services in Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky”, 1999. 

On the other hand, for every dollar of revenue the city gained from Fayette County Farms, it spent $.93 to service them - creating a net gain for the city.
-- American Farmland Trust “The Cost of Community Services in Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky”, 1999. 

It just makes good economic sense to hold the line urban expansion right now.

An expansion of the urban service boundary will not necessitate affordable housing in Fayette County.

On average, Lexingtonians make $35,982/year.
-- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2005

The average sales price for a new single family home is $188,131.
-- Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors, 2007

The average sales price for a new townhouse is $157,622.
-- Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors, 2007

After doing the math, it is no surprise most people have to go into debt in order to buy a new “affordable” home.

More than 10,000 Fayette County households spend over 35% of their monthly income on mortgage payments, and more than 18,000 renters spend over 35% of their monthly income on rent.
-- U.S. Census Bureau

Only a certain socioeconomic class can enjoy the rights of new home ownership in Lexington Fayette County.

Urban sprawl adversely effects minorities and inner city neighborhoods.
-- Dr. John Powell, “Lafayette Seminar”, Gaines Center for the Humanities, 2006

Because of urban sprawl, much needed markets and job opportunities are taken away from the urban core to the periphery of the county.
-- Dr. John Powell, “Lafayette Seminar”, Gaines Center for the Humanities, 2006

This trend economically and sociologically harms our inner city communities in Fayette County.
-- Dr. John Powell, “Lafayette Seminar”, Gaines Center for the Humanities, 2006

Rising gas prices must also be thrown into the mix when thinking about affordable housing.

Everyday we experience record highs at the pump. This situation is making it difficult for homeowners in distant subdivisions to economically get from point A to point B.
-- The Lexington Herald Leader, “Urban Growth Simmers Again”, May 29, 2006.

It is estimated that the cost of owning and operating one car is $10,000 a year - which roughly translates to a $100,000 mortgage.
-- "In Housing, Smaller is Big", Planning, APA, December 2006

When considering all of these factors, it’s apparent that an expansion of the urban service boundary won’t guarantee affordable housing.