The process to get a permit to hold a special event and to create a secondary dwelling unit in the county will get easier because of revisions to the La Plata County Land Use Code that county commissioners approved Tuesday.
In both cases, county staff members’ goal was to streamline and expedite the review process, said Jason Meininger, a planner with the county.
The changes allow permits for one-time special events such as road races to be approved administratively, rather than having to go through the county commissioners. Seasonal temporary uses, such as for farm stands or the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s Dino Train, will continue to require board approval.
Commissioners also streamlined the portion of the code related to secondary dwellings, which are defined as one or more rooms intended as separate living quarters that share utilities with the main residence. Secondary-dwelling units provide opportunities for a range of people across the county including an aging retirement community that seeks an alternative living situation, residents seeking to rent out space to offset the high cost of living and growing families seeking transitional housing for college-aged children, according to the planning department’s report.
“There are needs across the board,” Planning Director Damian Peduto said.
The code revision allows secondary dwelling units to go through an administrative approval process rather than through a public hearing before the commissioners.
ecowan@durangoherald.com
