La Plata County planning commissioners and planning staff have turned to the environmental resources element (chapter) of updating the comprehensive plan.
The draft update was reviewed by planning commissioners on Oct. 6. The focus is on the county's environmental quality and unique natural resources, including water, air, vegetation, fish and wildlife, soil, and geologic aspects.
It says, "The purpose of this element is to provide a guide for the management of these natural resources which are some of La Plata County's most valuable assets. ... As growth continues, the need for management of the county's natural resources is sure to increase."
It also says, "The management of natural resources includes not only protection, preservation, and restoration, but also appropriate use and development. In addition, there is a need to manage the potential impacts of natural hazards on development. Management decisions should maintain an appropriate balance between development and conservation interests."
Planning commissioner Lucy Baizel asked who gets to define that balance.
"Ultimately the planning commission," said planning staffer Robert Bowie.
Baizel responded, "What's appropriate for me may not be for Tom (Gorton)", another planning commissioner.
Planning Commission Chair Jim Tencza said, "This is a 20-year document. What's appropriate now may not be in year 19. It's what the majority of residents want."
The chapter gives considerable space to ground and surface water quality and quantity. It says that through the county land use code, the regulatory counterpart to the comp plan, the county "ensures that new development occurs only if a viable supply of water is available for that development."
Baizel commented, "I thought you were being very optimistic regarding development only if there's a viable supply of water available. How can we ensure that?"
Gorton said regulations about adequate water have changed over the years. "You have to draw a line and say this is what we think is reasonable in terms of adequate water."
The chapter ends with goals, objectives, and policies. One policy is to publicly support development of rural water systems. Gorton suggested adding, "and if appropriate, participate in the development of rural water systems. Infrastructure is one of our weak links. There are ways the county could participate in that. I know the county isn't going to become a rural water district."
Planning commissioners seemed to be OK with adding county participation.
One chapter objective is "to encourage the creation of open space..."
Baizel challenged the idea of open space being created. "That's in God's hand. It can be maintained (but not created). It's either there or it's not. ... It's the concept of creating something new when you're not."
Planning staffer Robert Bowie said open land could mean land that might be developed in the future.
Gorton commented, "I really don't think all the ranchers in the county want to think of their land as open space. They view it as their private property. Open space is a function of someone developing their property, that it's part of a development and often available to other peoples' use."
Planning Director Damian Peduto said the comp plan will not define open space. "We can make it so there's no negative inferences, so it doesn't create different perspectives based on the reader" of the plan, he said.
Planning commissioners probably will finish the environmental resources section at their Nov. 3 meeting and turn to public safety. The entire comp plan update is scheduled to be completed in spring 2017.
Then attention will turn to updating district area land use plans.
Discussion on Oct. 6 included the pending complete re-write of the county land use code. Peduto said the county has contracted with a consulting firm from Sugarland, Texas to do that.
"It will be a very in-depth project," he said. "We'll have a working group that meets with the consultant. There will be public input. The planning commission will have meetings to discuss it, so you aren't looking at a finished document in 18 months. You'll have opportunity to interject at various points. ... There will be several benchmarks where it will be brought to you."
The consultants "don't come in with a pre-designed shelf product," he said. "They come in having read the comp plan and the existing code. Next month they'll be scheduling meetings with developers, people who use the code for protection, get a sense of the place."
Tencza noted these consultants have already done work for Durango and Cortez.
Community members will be able to submit comments online, Peduto said.
