Bayfield planning commissioners approved a three mile plan for the town at their April 14 meeting. It becomes part of the town's 2005 comprehensive plan.
State law requires a three mile plan as part of annexing land into town. Town Manager Chris La May said it was motivated by another item on the planning commission agenda, a small annexation of land on E. East Drive owned by Kalon and Lora Porter, part of which is already in town limits. Planning commissioners recommended approval of that.
La May said the rough circle of the three mile plan extends three miles from the town boundaries.
It extends south almost to County Road 518, east to the end of CR 525 and up Sauls Creek, north on CR 501 to just past the Beaver Creek Ranch subdivision, also up CR 502 / 505, west on Highway 160 to Foxfire Road, and southwest to Sage Crest Way off CR 510.
The written part of the plan says, "The Three Mile Plan does not assume, propose, or guarantee that any property within three miles will be annexed by the Town. ... The plan does not propose specific improvements or land uses for extraterritorial areas..."
Most of the written part of the plan deals with criteria for annexation.
Asked how the plan might affect property owners within the circle, La May said projects proposed within the three mile area would be referred to the town for comments.
"The three mile plan doesn't give us any land use authority over those properties. It just incorporates them into our planning environment," La May said. Asked about any proposed marijuana businesses within the circle, he said, "We adopted a resolution when we were discussing marijuana (medical in 2010, recreational in 2013), to have the right to exclude marijuana operations in the three mile area. The (county) commissioners recognized that. They could change their minds."
