Misinformation is being spread in the community, with unfair criticism launched at county staff about the process that created the Land Use Code. I, with fellow county commissioners Gwen Lachelt and Clyde Church, approved the 2020 Land Use Code.
The effort was not just a revision of the LUC. It was a complete rewrite of the 30-year-old regulations that were antiquated and sorely in need of updating. The code rewrite was a multiyear process that began with Planning Commission-led revisions to district plans and the county master development plan. The community, at every step, guided and informed the new Land Use Code.
The commissioners’ goals were to remove obsolete provisions, delete internal inconsistencies and facilitate development in areas with adequate infrastructure. Lastly, the LUC introduced new land use options through “Ag Plus,” which opened doors to economic diversification for agricultural property owners in agritourism and other low-impact commercial uses.
County commissioners, staff and the Planning Commission, along with engaged citizens, spent hundreds of hours reviewing and revising the proposed LUC. The draft was subject to public review and comment, with the commissioners adopting the final version in September 2020.
Like any living document, the 2020 Land Use Code can be, has been and will continue to be revised as La Plata County changes. I believe the current commissioners should and do welcome constructive suggestions. There are many ways to give input to elected officials. However, maligning county staff six years later does not move the county forward.
Julie Westendorff
Durango
