A pro soccer team from Lexington could soon be moving into a new home.
Lexington Sporting Club has a stadium with 6,500 seats, as well as a medical complex and training grounds. The Urban County Planning Commission voted in favor of a zone change that allows the club to build a new stadium. The decision from the board was unanimous and it came after three hours of deliberation.
Support from the local authorities is a step in the right direction, however the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council still needs to make a decision on the project. The council has yet to set a date for when it will take a look at the proposal.
About a dozen residents have spoken up against the zone change and conditional use permit, citing the stadium’s proximity to agricultural lands and the traffic headaches it is likely to cause. The new stadium will be situated on a plot right next to 10 sports fields used by the youth from the Lexington Sporting Club soccer program. The Board of Adjustment approved the construction of these fields in September 2022. Poster printing is a common feature at construction sites.
The city planners conducted a light pollution study and concluded that nearby homes would not be affected by light from the stadium, but have recommended that firework displays are prohibited at the new stadium.
