In the Purposes and Objectives (Sec. 62-1-3) of the proposed La Plata County land use code, it is clearly stated “ ... this Code shall be implemented for the general purposes of adopting and enforcing ordinances and resolutions regarding health and safety issues ...”
It goes on to elaborate on the specific purpose to “Preserve and provide for the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens and businesses of La Plata County ...”
I am concerned about how resource and character preservation is relevant to a county code specifically directed to health and safety issues. While preserving the county’s historic character and other areas of cultural, scenic, or architectural significance is a noble cause, this is unnecessary government overreach.
For example, the Scenic Overlay District (Sec. 63-1-3, IV) goes into great detail limiting the property rights of land owners within 500 feet along several highway corridors in the county. It describes requirements on development for structure location, driveways, setbacks, roof planes, building colors, materials and other things.
The River Corridor Overlay District (Sec. 63-1-3, III) contains similar restrictions near many of our rivers and streams as well.
I question the necessity for the code to protect the open unobstructed view of scenic features, especially where they are so loosely defined.
The requirement to provide a viewshed analysis to ensure compliance would increase the cost of any development plan.
La Plata County would be well advised to forgo attempting to regulate the viewscape from well over a hundred miles of the scenic and river corridors.
Larry Zauberis
Durango
