The owners of Castleton Lyons Farm submitted plans on May 31 to “divide more than 1,000 acres of land into 16 different lots,” according to a June 14 Lexington Herald-Leader story.
According to the plan, the lots will range in size from 40 acres to more than 80 acres.
The farm’s location outside of Lexington’s development boundaries limits what can be built on farmland.
The Herald-Leader quoted city officials as saying that each lot “may have one house on it and at least one additional house for farm workers, known as farm tenant housing.” Each home must also “have a septic system, subject to approval by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.”
A Castleton Lyons executive did not immediately respond to BloodHorse’s June 17 request for comment.
According to the report, no other types of development are allowed on zoned agricultural properties outside the growth boundary.
Dr Tony Ryan, co-founder of Ryanair, bought the property in 2001. Then known as Castleton Stud, Ryan renamed the farm Castleton Lyons after his family estate, Lyons Demesne, in County Kildare, Ireland. After renovating the property, the farm reopened as a stud farm with the addition of stallions such as Action This Day, Bernstein, Malibu Moon, Sir Shackleton, Toccet and Wiseman’s Ferry.
Also standing at the farm is Pontian wind, who has won three Eclipse Awards and earned more than $6 million during his career. He was retired before the 2024 season and lives on the farm.
Ryan died in 2007 at the family estate in his native Ireland. His son Shane Ryan is the current owner.
According to the Herald-Leader, there was a proposal to “spend $5 million in local tax dollars to preserve the farm” through the Purchase of Development Rights program, but that proposal was rejected in 2017. The report notes that the program “uses appropriate federal financial resources.” dollars to purchase development rights, which makes the land undevelopable.” However, the federal program does not allow foreign-born or non-U.S. taxpayers to receive federal funds.
The program proposed using local money to purchase development rights, but the $5 million amount would be “nearly double the amount the city allocates” to the program each year, and it was decided that it was a price too high.
City spokeswoman Susan Straub told the Herald-Leader that the initial plan will be reviewed as part of the Urban District Planning Commission subcommittee meeting on July 3. The full planning commission will review the plans at the July 11 meeting.
