Georgetown, Kentucky – A significant regional business park initiative involving multiple counties appears to be effectively canceled following a decisive vote by the Georgetown City Council. On Monday, the council voted 6-2 against an inter-local agreement designed to establish an authority overseeing a proposed 500-acre business park in Scott County.
Without Georgetown’s backing, a spokesperson for the partnership confirmed that the project is now off the table. For more than a year, local stakeholders had collaborated to secure over $6 million in state matching funds, along with additional federal funding, aimed at creating a business park projected to generate approximately 1,400 jobs and contribute significantly to local tax revenue.
The original inter-local agreement included collaboration among several entities, namely the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Madison County, Scott County, and other municipalities such as Berea and Richmond. Just last week, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council had approved a $2.1 million allocation to support the park, with each participating county expected to contribute $4 million.
Concerns regarding the business park project were voiced by several Georgetown council members during the recent discussions. Councilman Greg Hampton raised doubts about the profit sharing arrangement, which would allocate 33.3% of the tax revenue to Lexington while Georgetown and Scott County would receive just over 50%. “Why would we not want to adjust some of the percentages so we would receive even more of the revenue?” he questioned.
Additionally, Councilwoman Millie Butcher Conway expressed her apprehensions regarding the site’s location, which is situated near local high schools and close to the environmentally sensitive banks of the Elkhorn Creek. “It’s just too much,” she stated, addressing the potential risks of increased traffic, infrastructure needs, and overall community impact.
Community engagement played a significant role in the council’s decision, with over 800 residents joining a Facebook group opposing the business park, emphasizing concerns about its effects on local traffic and services. “It’s about the people of Georgetown and Scott County,” said local resident Polly Singer.
Despite the opposition, Mayor Burney Jenkins advocated for the project, highlighting the need for Georgetown to diversify its revenue streams. “Looking down the road, this would be good for getting revenue,” he remarked. Conversely, Councilman Mark Showalter noted the city’s reliance on business taxes, emphasizing the need for job creation to avoid raising taxes for residents.
As the failed agreement leaves questions about the fate of the already allocated $2.1 million from Lexington and future developments regarding the 500-acre site, a zoning change has been filed, but no hearing date has been set as of now.
