|
County approves development rules
By Carole Cloudwalker
This document was published online on Friday, November 21, 2008
New Park County development standards were approved and put into effect this week by the county commissioners.
Approval came Tuesday following a Monday night public hearing at which the four members of the public in attendance were outnumbered by county officials.
Though the standards were approved, Park County Commission chairman Tim French said the regulations likely will be flexible and will continue to change as necessary.
“I think we will continually update these regulations,” he said. “Each step we make we try to clarify” with specific regulations.
Issues discussed during Monday night's hearing included increasing from 35 to 40 the number of acres subject to a large acreage review process, county planner Linda Gillett said.
Prior to July 1, 2008, any parcel of 35 acres or larger could be created without county subdivision review, as an exempt parcel.
Developers only were required to provide access and utility easements of a certain width to each parcel and a record of survey.
The state passed new legislation effective July 1, 2008 (W.S. 18-5-316), that allows counties to enact specific regulations for “large-acreage” subdivisions of parcels 35 acres up to 140 acres.
This allows the county the ability to place certain requirements on these large parcels, such as water rights distribution plans and studies evaluating water supplies and sewage systems.
Under Tuesday's decision, developments of less than 11 lots will be reviewed only by the county planning office, while developments of more than 11 lots will be reviewed by county planning and zoning commission and the commissioners as well.
The board could have increased the acreage exempt from review to as many as 140 acres, which commissioners Bucky Hall and Jill Shockley Siggins favored.
Commissioners Bill Brewer and Marie Fontaine disapproved, favoring the 40-acre increase.
Brewer said his opposition was based primarily on several calls he had from constituents who wanted the lower acreage.
“I feel I'm (also) elected to represent those who tell me no,” Brewer said. “I'm not convinced we're not generating too many regulations.”
French agreed with Brewer.
“I don't think we're really gaining if we changed it to 140,” French said, “I would go with the 40.”
Other issues addressed in the new regulations include commercial and individual wind farms, floodplain issues, work camps and standards for manufactured mobile home parks.
The board decided the rules should go into effect immediately.
Hall voted against the motion approving the regulations.
|
Popular Searches