Lexington is growing fast, and the hardest question is where that growth should go. We sat down on the Warehouse Block with District 3 council candidates Griffin Van Meter and John Larson for a wide-ranging, candid conversation about housing, transportation, and the choices that will shape Lexington’s character for the next generation. If you’ve been wondering why traffic feels worse, why rent keeps rising, and why the urban service boundary debate never goes away, you’ll hear real answers and real tradeoffs, not talking points.

We get into the Urban Service Boundary, preserving horse farms and farmland, and the argument for focusing on infill development and adaptive reuse instead of sprawl. Griffin shares a planning-and-policy lens grounded in parks, public space, and connection across neighborhoods, while John brings decades of public service, a sharp focus on stewardship of taxpayer money, and a push to prioritize core infrastructure like roads, police, and fire. Along the way, we talk student housing pressure near campus, historic neighborhood impacts, parking lots downtown, and what it means to build a city for people instead of cars.

Affordable housing is a centerpiece: funding realities, what local subsidy can actually produce, and practical tools like accessory dwelling units and corridor-focused zoning. We also explore inequality, the role of public education, libraries, parks, and transit, plus a frank look at respect and services for people experiencing homelessness.