Lexington City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 20
OPEN SPACE STANDARDS
Sec. 20-1. - Intent.
The intent of this Article is to incorporate intentionally designed and equitably distributed open space into all development projects.
The regulations contained in this provision are intended to:
• Protect and enhance public health, safety, and quality of life by providing safe and accessible open space where people can gather and establish a sense of community.
• Increase environmental sustainability and resiliency by providing green space to offset the impacts of the built environment.
• Support the Urban County Government's goal of providing access to open space within a 10-minute walk of all neighborhoods and communities.
(Ord. No. 004-2023, § 31, 1-31-2023)
Sec. 20-2. - Open space requirements.
Where not regulated elsewhere in the Zoning Ordinance, open space shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
(a) Overlap in use and purpose of open space types: Useable areas, vegetated areas, and common areas are types of open space that may overlap in use and purpose. The area of one type of open space may be counted toward the minimum requirement of other types where the applicable standards of each are being met.
(b) Summary table of open space requirements:
Single-Family Residential | |||
R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-1D, R-1E, R-1T, R-2, R-3, R-4, M-1P | Not required | Not required | Required for > 25 dwelling units |
Multi-Family Residential/ Group Residential Projects | Useable Area | Vegetated Area | Common Area(s) |
R-1T | 10% | 10% | Required for > 25 dwelling units |
R-3 | 20% | 20% | |
R-4 | 15% | 15% | |
R-5 | 10% | 10% | |
Mixed Use/Commercial | Useable Area | Vegetated Area | Common Area(s) |
B-1, P-1, B-3, B-4, B-5P, MU-1, MU-2, I-1, I-2 | 10% | 10% | Required for sites > 3 net acres and/or > 25 dwelling units |
B-2, B-2A, B-2B | 5% | 0% | |
B-6P, MU-3 | 15% | 15% | |
P-2 | 40% | 20% | |
(c) The Board of Adjustment shall have the authority to require open space for conditional uses in residential zones based on the minimum open space requirements for the zone in which such use is first allowed as a principal use. Open space for conditional uses located in mixed use/commercial zones shall be based on the minimum open space requirements for the zone in which they are located.
(Ord. No. 004-2023, § 31, 1-31-2023)
Sec. 20-3. - Vegetated area standards.
(a) Requirements.
(1) At least seventy-five (75) percent of the vegetated area must be covered by living plants.
(2) Required vehicular use area interior landscaping is not included. Invasive tree and plant species, per the LFUCG Planting Manual, are not included.
(3) On a preliminary development plan, the required and provided vegetated area square footage shall be listed as a percentage of the developable area in the statistical summary of pertinent site data.
(4) For a final development plan or preliminary subdivision plan;
(a) Vegetated areas must be clearly designated on the generalized planting plan per Article 26 and appear visually distinct from nonqualifying areas.
(b) The required and provided vegetated area square footage shall be listed as a percentage of the developable area in the statistical summary of pertinent site data.
(c) Where a vegetated area type listed in Table 20-4 is used, hatching or other means of visually designating the area must be shown on the generalized planting plan and the square footage and multiplier rate used must be included in the statistical summary of pertinent site data.
(Ord. No. 004-2023, § 31, 1-31-2023)
Sec. 20-4. - Vegetated area incentives for green infrastructure.
(a) For sites of three (3) acres or less, a net decrease in the required vegetated area square footage may be achieved by providing a green infrastructure type listed in table 20-4(b) below. The ground-level or roof-level square footage of the following green infrastructure types is multiplied by the associated rate to achieve a net decrease in total vegetated area required.
(b) Green Infrastructure Multiplier Table:
Green Infrastructure Type | Multiplier Rate |
Innovative Design1 | 1.15 |
Community Garden2 | 1.15 |
Tree Stand3 | 1.5 |
Vegetated Green Infrastructure4 | 1.75 |
Vegetated Roof4 | 2 |
Riparian Buffer Restoration/Preservation5 | 2 |
1 Provide an innovative design that is not listed elsewhere in the table but still achieves the basic objectives of these regulations.
2 As defined by the LFUCG Code of Ordinances and must also include access to a watering source.
3 As defined by Article 26 of the LFUCG Zoning Ordinance.
4 Must meet requirements of the LFUCG Stormwater Manual.
5 Must meet requirements of the LFUCG Stormwater Manual along the length of stream on lot, may also include vegetative stream bank stabilization and restoration areas as specified in the LFUCG Stormwater Manual.
(Ord. No. 004-2023, § 31, 1-31-2023)
Sec. 20-5. - Common area standards.
(a) Location standards.
(1) The development shall be planned so that a common area is within a ¼ mile (1,320 feet) walking distance along a walkable route (as defined in Article 1) to ninety (90) percent of proposed dwelling units entrances or other applicable building entrances;
(2) The common areas(s) shall be located within the development to connect to each other and adjacent open spaces via a walkable route.
(b) Dimensional standards for common areas which serve single family lots.
(1) Minimum size: Ten thousand (10,000) square feet.
(2) Least dimension: One hundred (100) feet.
(c) Dimensional standards for common areas which serve multi-family, mixed-use, and commercial developments.
(1) Minimum size: Eight thousand five hundred (8,500) square feet.
(2) Least dimension: Twenty (20) feet.
(3) Connectivity: When multiple common areas are provided to meet the minimum size requirement, they must be connected via a walkable route.
(d) Development standards.
(1) Primary access and visibility. At least fifty (50) percent of the required common area perimeter shall have frontage on an approved street or public right-of-way, a vehicle access easement with pedestrian facilities, a shared use path in an easement, or be directly adjacent to a building facade on the same lot that provides visibility and a pedestrian entrance into the common area.
(2) Secondary entry points. Secondary entry points shall be a minimum of twenty (20) feet wide and contain a minimum five (5) foot wide sidewalk that connects to pedestrian facilities on an adjacent approved street, public right-of-way, vehicle access easement, or shared use path in an easement.
(3) Physical improvements. Common areas must include physical improvements and amenities including, but not limited to, walking paths, gardens, play areas, swimming pools, sports facilities, and the like to support passive and/or active uses.
(4) Canopy coverage and shading. Large tree canopy (Group A species) or other shade providing structures must cover thirty (30) percent of the required common area. Small and/or medium tree canopy (Group B and C species) may fulfil this requirement only when preexisting overhead conflicts are present or when existing tree canopy is preserved.
(5) Topography and hydrology. A minimum of fifty (50) percent of the common area shall be a generally flat and dry surface suitable for recreational use. Retention and detention basins, wetlands, floodplains and their buffers may be used to meet a portion of the common area requirement if its banks are vegetated and landscaping is provided around the perimeter in an effort to make it a visual amenity for the development and the perimeter is accessible by the provision of pedestrian facilities.
(e) Calculation and documentation.
(1) Calculation. Only the portions of common areas which meet the applicable requirements of sections 20-5(a) through 20-5(d) may be included in area and distance calculations.
(2) Preliminary development plan requirements.
(a) Common areas must be generally located and dimensioned on the plan.
(b) The provided common area square footage shall be listed in the statistical summary of pertinent site data.
(c) Documentation of walkable routes and distances may be requested by the Division of Planning. Requested documentation shall be provided as a visual exhibit at an appropriate scale.
(3) Final development plan and preliminary subdivision plan requirements.
(a) Common areas must be clearly designated and dimensioned and should appear visually distinct from non-qualifying areas.
(b) The provided common area square footage shall be listed in the statistical summary of pertinent site data.
(c) Documentation of walkable routes and distances may be requested by the Division of Planning. Requested documentation shall be provided as a visual exhibit at an appropriate scale.
(d) The requirements of 20-5(d) shall be depicted on the plan or and/or documented through notes on the plan.
(Ord. No. 004-2023, § 31, 1-31-2023)
Sec. 20-6. - Common area exemption for development near publicly accessible open spaces.
Where proposed dwelling unit entrances or other applicable building entrances are located within the specified walking distance along a walkable route of the following three instances, those entrances may be exempted from the common area requirements of this Article. Documentation of walkable routes and distances shall be provided as a visual exhibit at an appropriate scale submitted to the Division of Planning and a note documenting such shall be included on any Development Plan.
(a) One-half mile (2,640 feet) of an entrance to an existing or proposed LFUCG Park; or
(Ord. No. 004-2023, § 31, 1-31-2023)
Sec. 20-7. - Common area signage and shared-use path access.
(a) Signage: Incidental signs indicating the hours of operation and ownership or party responsible for maintenance shall be posted at the primary entrance point(s) to the common area. Signage may also reference the Kentucky Recreational Use Statute (KRS 411.190), which encourages owners of land to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting their liability toward persons entering thereon for such purposes.
(b) Shared-use paths: When a shared-use path that is part of the public transportation network is provided through or along a common area, it shall be regulated in accordance with the Land Subdivision Regulations.
(Ord. No. 004-2023, § 31, 1-31-2023)
Sec. 20-8. - Common area provisions for multi-phase developments and timing.
(a) Development proposed in phases shall be considered as a single development for the purposes of calculating the common area(s).
(b) In cases where less than one hundred (100) percent of the total amount of common area is provided within the first phase of a multi-phase development, the remaining amount shall be apportioned into each of the remaining development phases.
(c) All common areas and improvements shall be completed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the final building.
(Ord. No. 004-2023, § 31, 1-31-2023)