The La Plata County Commissioners had their say Tuesday on the updated county comprehensive plan that was certified by county planning commissioners on Nov. 5.
The update of the 2001 comp plan started in February. It has an updated introduction and sections on growth trends, agriculture, infrastructure, and extractive industry/ renewable resources. The rest of the 2001 plan was also certified as the 2015 plan, with work on other topics to continue through 2016 into 2017.
"This is from the roots up, a re-write, not just an update of the 2001 plan," County Planning Director Damian Peduto said. It simplifies and reorganizes, and recognizes elements that weren't in the 2001 plan, he said.
County Commissioner Julie Westendorff asked about use of "could" or "should" in the plan.
Planning commission chair Jim Tencza said those got a lot of discussion in comp plan meetings. "We tried to keep it at could, but there were some items that some planning commissioners felt strongly about." He cited uses of the words in the extractive resources chapter. Should indicates "that we can't tell you what to do, but we think it would be a good idea."
He noted the attention in the agriculture chapter to right-to-farm provisions and growing interest in supporting local small farming. That will come up in the land use discussion and could be the first thing reconsidered in the ag chapter, he said.
Peduto said the land use section will have to correlate with policies that are already certified, including right to farm, supporting small farms, and eco-tourism.
County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt said, "There seems to be a trend toward small-scale farming. Have you considered reconvening the Ag Protection Task Force?"
That was in 1995, Tencza said. That would need an effort to find out who was on the task force and if they are still around.
"I hear a desire for a permanent home for the (Durango) Farmers' Market and reducing conditions to have a farm stand, and housing for ag workers," Lachelt said. Turning to the certified extractive resources/ renewable energy chapter, she noted lack of reference to the Climate and Energy Action Plan drafted several years ago by a citizens' group.
"We have it captured in broad terms," Peduto said.
Lachelt cited the county's coalbed methane development. "I'd like to see more that it's an aging field with aging infrastructure" that could mean safety issues. "It's still a productive field. Another trend we are seeing is the need to add more compression. What impact will that have on the electric grid, noise? Will we see (producers) moving to develop utility-scale solar?"
Peduto responded, "That's identifying and recognizing trends, how we deal with them, that you want that interjected in the element (chapter)."
County Commissioner Brad Blake asked Tencza how the county commissioners can help as the comp plan process continues.
"Just the continued support of the planning commission," Tencza said. "Continue to appoint planning commissioners as good as the ones we have now. No one has an agenda. You appoint them. I'll corral them."
"The public process has been very satisfying and successful," Peduto said, thanking the Pine River Times for being at every one of the monthly comp plan meetings and for reporting accurately on them.
Tencza noted that "one of the biggest heavy lifting items" - land use - will be the topic starting in January and scheduled to go into April. Following that will be the airport in May and housing in July.
Hesperus area resident Tom Morrissey expressed concern for the land use section, centered on mixed-use areas. People looking at buying property want certainty of what could be next door, he said. "When I buy a house, I want to know there won't be a gravel pit or a mobile home park next door...The language around mobile home parks should be more explicit, that they aren't acceptable in residential areas."
Peduto encouraged him to participate in the land use discussion.
Comp plan meetings are the first Thursday each month at 6 p.m. in the County Administration Building, 1101 E. 2nd Ave. in Durango. Actual work happens between meetings, with proposed changes or additions posted on-line for discussion at the next meeting. View the plan at http://co.laplata.co.us/departments_and_elected_officials/planning/comprehensive_plan. There is a place to submit comments, as well.
