Population: 3,960,825
Counties: 120
Governor Paul E. Patton

Key Laws/State Agencies
Reports/Organizations/Media/Calendar

Click here to read Governor Paul Patton's 2001 State of the State address.

Key Laws:
For an overview of Kentucky's planning and zoning statutes, see the excellent summary provided by the American Planning Association.

State Agencies:
Agricultural District Program
The Division of Conservation administers the Agricultural District Program as passed by the 1982 General Assembly.  Kentucky's law allows landowners who own 250 or more acres in agricultural use to petition their local conservation districts for the creation of agricultural districts. The goals of the agricultural district law are to protect our best agricultural land for fiber production and to prevent its conversion to nonagricultural usage.

Institutional Conservation Program (ICP)
(Grants for Schools & Hospitals)
 The Institutional Conservation Program (ICP) awards 50/50 matching grants to public and private non-profit schools and hospitals to complete detailed engineering analyses of buildings and to install those cost-effective energy conservation measures recommended in the engineering study. Guidelines for this program are outlined in the ICP Kentucky State Plan. Copies of the plan are available upon request. 
http://www.nr.state.ky.us/nrepc/dnr/energy/doeicp.html

Urban and Community Forestry
The Division of Forestry provides technical assistance to individuals, service organizations, nonprofit groups, and communities in establishing tree boards, tree ordinances, street tree surveys, tree planting and maintenance, insect and disease problems, and grant administration. 
Formal community forestry programs exist in 57 communities.
http://www.nr.state.ky.us/nrepc/dnr/forestry/u&cf.html

Bicycle and Bikeway Commission
The BBC is attached to the Transportation Cabinet in the Governor's Office and advises the Governor on relevant issues to the Kentucky bicycling public.
http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/gov/bds&cms.pdf

Interagency Farmland Advisory Commission
Reviews state and local government agencies in taking more than 50 acres of farmland and converting it to other uses and from this review makes recommendations to the Governor.  The Commission exists to protect farmland. 
Contact info:  5th Floor, Capital Plaza Tower, Frankfort, KY  40601

Organizations:
Bluegrass Tomorrow
Bluegrass Tomorrow brings regional vision to shape growth planning actions affecting the seven counties of central Kentucky -- Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Madison, Scott, and Woodford. Recognizing the need for a viable economy, a protected environment, and livable communities, Bluegrass Tomorrow works for solutions that balance the need for growth with the preservation of the region's unique scenic qualities. 
We accomplish our aims by bringing private sector, non-profit leadership to promote regional dialogue and collaborative goal-setting, to facilitate public and private sector cooperation.

Regional:
Southern Growth Policies Board
The Southern Growth Policies Board prepares and keeps current a statement of regional objectives, including recommended approaches to regional problems.  The Board concentrates in the following areas:
· The planning and programming of projects of interstate or regional significance.
· The planning and scheduling of governmental services.
· Measures for influencing population distribution, land
use, development of new communities and redevelopment of existing ones. 
· Transportation patterns and systems of interstate and regional significance.
· Improved utilization of human and natural resources for the advancement of the region as a whole
Contact Person- Dr. Stephen D. House, Institution for Economic Development
Executive Assistant to the President
Van Meter Hall 212 - Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green KY 42101

Media:
"Agency can't OK innovative subdivisions Justices: Panel lacks authority," Louisville Courier-Journal. May 1, 2001.

"Growth seen in use of conservation easements in state," Louisville Courier-Journal. May 11, 2001.

Reports:
In October 1999, the Subcommittee on Planning and Land-use of the state general assembly released a sketch of its Blueprint for a New Century of Growth in Kentucky. The report is the culmination of two years of work by the subcommittee, and it will be embodied in a bill to be introduced in late 1999 by State Rep. Jim Wayne. The legislation is expected to require local plans to be submitted to the state within three years of adoption of the act. New laws in 1998 allow for the establishment of local purchase of development rights programs; address the siting of cellular communication facilities; and address zoning code enforcement issues.

The Bluegrass Trust for Historic Preservation released its second annual "Eleven in the Eleventh Hour"; its list of the most endangered historic properties in Central Kentucky.  The properties on the endangered list are based on several factors, including historic significance, proximity to proposed or current development, lack of protection from demolition, the condition of the structure, and architectural significance.                 http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/news/102500/localdocs/25bluegrasstrust.htm

CALENDAR OF EVENTS