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La Plata County
Community Development Services Update
August 2020
Greetings from the La Plata County Planning Department! Below you will find a news update on the projects, plans and processes afoot in our department, at the Planning Commission, and at the Board of County Commissioners. Thank you for your interest in La Plata County!
Here's what you'll find in this issue:
Draft Land Use Code Version 2 out for public review, input
Just a reminder that VERSION 2 of the Draft Land Use Code has been distributed for community review and input. This version of the draft code, written by La Plata County staff, incorporates the community input and policy guidance received since VERSION 1 of the Draft Land Use code was released May 11. Please provide input using options below, or at upcoming public hearings by Aug. 14, 2020, for consideration in Version 3.
Draft Land Use Code Documents
1) Draft La Plata County Land Use Code - Version 2
2) Draft La Plata County Land Use Code - Version 1
3) Land Use Code Crosswalk: From the old to the new
4) Outreach & Engagement Schedule
5) General community workshop schedule & access information
6) Topic-focused workshop schedule & access information
7) Public comment portal
8) NewCode@co.laplata.co.us
9) There are also paper copies of the Draft Land Use Code at the Bayfield, Ignacio, Fort Lewis Mesa and Sunnyside libraries
The draft land use code is intended to achieve the Board of County Commissioners’ goals when initiating the code re-write effort in 2016. Specifically, the Board of County Commissioners directed staff to:
- Reconcile and clarify the land use code
- Provide for predictability and improved certainty of the process and outcomes
- Facilitate and direct growth to appropriate areas
- Improve the review process
- Articulate clear development standards
- Streamline the development process
- Protect and respect the county’s most valued assets
- Minimize sprawl
New tools & concepts
This draft land use code aims to achieve those goals by introducing new tools such as:
Economic Development Areas
The draft land use code outlines a process that would apply specialized land use regulations to promote commercial, industrial, or mixed residential/commercial development in areas nominated by the county or individuals
AgPlus
The draft land use code includes a unique set of uses by right and types of administrative land use permits that are a companion to agriculture, offering a means to expand uses on agricultural land without an extensive review process so as to encourage, promote and foster agricultural enterprises and activities in the county.
Sketch plan review
The draft land use code introduces a “sketch plan” to evaluate and discuss the basic design, concept, and suitability of a project before the applicant spends time and money on a full application process. The sketch plan will move the compatibility analysis to the beginning of the review process, rather than at the end like it is under the existing code.
Development standards
The draft land use code includes clearly articulated development standards for a range of general and specific uses, giving applicants a concrete understanding of what will be required to gain approval for their project.
Public Review & Input
The Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission are eager for community input and feedback on this version of the draft land use code, and look forward to culminating this project by adopting a new land use code in fall of 2020. View Outreach & Engagement Schedule.
All public comments received by August 14, 2020 will be considered for Version 3 of the draft land use code.
La Plata County offers multiple mechanisms to submit input. All input received via these tools will be part of the Land Use Code adoption record:
Public Hearings
The Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners will each hold a series of public hearings to take comment on the draft Land Use Code. These hearings will be accessible by Zoom as well as in-person participation following La Plata County's meeting guidelines for social distancing, which include wearing a face covering.
Board of County Commissioner public hearings
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2 p.m. & 6 p.m.
La Plata County Administration Building, Board Room
General community workshops
This series of workshops, conducted via Zoom, introduced the DRAFT new code contents by general topic including:
1) Day to day life and business - VIEW PRESENTATION
Watch recording from 5/26/20
Watch recording from 5/27/20
2) Support for agriculture, business and housing - VIEW PRESENTATION
Watch recording from 6/2/20
Watch recording from 6/3/20
3) More significant development projects: Commercial, industrial, subdivisions - VIEW PRESENTATION
Watch recording from 6/9/20
Watch recording from 6/10/20
4) Special topics: long range planning tools, advisory & decision-making boards, etc. - VIEW PRESENTATION
Watch recording from 6/16/20
Watch recording from 6/17/20
View a complete schedule and Zoom access information.
Topic-focused workshops
This series of workshops, conducted via Zoom, introduced and gathered input on the DRAFT new code contents by specific topic including:
1) Development review process - VIEW PRESENTATION
Watch recording from 5/29/20:
Part 1
Part 2
2) Development standards - VIEW PRESENTATION
Watch recording from 6/5/20
3) Road standards, drainage & erosion control standards - VIEW PRESENTATION
Watch recording from 6/12/20
4) Project Simulation - VIEW PRESENTATION
Watch recording from 6/19/20
View a complete schedule and Zoom access information.
Additional comment options
1) Make comments directly in chapters and sections of the code using our Comment Portal
2) Use dedicated NewCode@co.laplata.co.us to submit comments
3) Public hearings of Planning Commission & Board of County Commissioners. During the formal adoption process, verbal and written public comment
Joint PC/BOCC Work Sessions
The Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission held a series of work sessions to review the public input received through the above mechanisms and further discuss the draft code.
May 28 - Agenda Packet (Updated with Presentation)
June 4 - Agenda Packet - VIEW PRESENTATION
June 11 - Agenda Packet - VIEW PRESENTATION
June 18 - Agenda Packet - VIEW PRESENTATION
Planning Commission Meetings
All meetings are held at 6 p.m. and are accessible via Zoom using the links or phone numbers below. In-person attendance is allowed in the Board Room of the County Administration Building, 1101 E. 2nd Ave., Durango, with limited capacity and in accordance with La Plata County's meeting guidelines for social distancing, which include a face-covering requirement.
<https://zoom.us/j/371987878>
Through this link, you can listen to audio on your computer or tablet and speak during public comment periods at relevant meetings.
For audio access by telephone, call any of the numbers below (if the number called is busy, please call another number on the list):
(346) 248 7799
(669) 900 9128
(312) 626 6799
(646) 558 8656
(253) 215 8782
(301) 715 8592
Enter meeting ID 371 987 878
August 13
- Purgatory Metro District Wastewater Treatment Plan Location & Extent
The Planning Commission will consider a request to construct a new wastewater treatment facility, located east of the Metro District's office at 49786 U.S. Highway 550.
August 27
- Justesen Tow Yard Class II
The Planning Commission will consider a proposal for a 4,000 square foot tow yard to accommodate up to 10 vehicles at 3333 CR 510.
Board of County Commissioner Meetings
All meetings are held at 10 a.m. unless otherwise noted and are accessible via Zoom using the links or phone numbers below. In-person attendance is allowed in the Board Room of the County Administration Building, 1101 E. 2nd Ave., Durango, with limited capacity and in accordance with La Plata County's meeting guidelines for social distancing, which include a face-covering requirement.
https://zoom.us/j/819094582
Or by telephone:
Dial (if the first number is busy, try another number):
(346) 248 7799
(669) 900 9128
(312) 626 6799
(646) 558 8656
(253) 215 8782
(301) 715 8592
Webinar ID: 819 094 582
August 11
- Land Use Code Public Hearing - 2 p.m. & 6 p.m.
The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to take public comment on the new draft land use code, consider and review the July 23, 2020 Planning Commission recommendation on the draft land use code and discuss the draft land use code for adoption in September.
August 18
- Kroeger RV Park Class II
The Planning Commission will consider a a 19-space RV park with office and laundry services at 9981 S U.S. Highway 550.
Joint Planning Commission Meetings
All meetings are held at 6 p.m. and are accessible via Zoom using the links or phone numbers below. In-person attendance is allowed in the Board Room of the County Administration Building, 1101 E. 2nd Ave., Durango, with limited capacity and in accordance with La Plata County's meeting guidelines for social distancing, which include a face-covering requirement.
<https://zoom.us/j/371987878>
Through this link, you can listen to audio on your computer or tablet and speak during public comment periods at relevant meetings.
For audio access by telephone, call any of the numbers below (if the number called is busy, please call another number on the list):
(346) 248 7799
(669) 900 9128
(312) 626 6799
(646) 558 8656
(253) 215 8782
(301) 715 8592
Enter meeting ID 371 987 878
August 20
- La Posta Road Area Plan Map Amendment - Valhalla LLC
The Joint Planning Commission will consider a request to amend the La Posta Road Area District Plan on a 10.6 acre parcel from Multiple Use to Mixed Commercial/Light Industrial (5.6 acres) and Residential Medium Density (5 acres), and to also reposition the proposed Road A which would separate the two proposed land use classifications at 131 Moose Lane.
Planning project map
Community Development Services and the county's IT department built a locator map that shows all the proposed projects in La Plata County! This interactive tool shows you where each project is located and what stage it is in the permitting process. Check out the project locator map here!
Stay informed
Thank you for your interest in planning and community development issues in La Plata County. We will use this list to keep you informed of upcoming projects and processes, so please forward to those who might be interested. Feel free to contact us at La Plata County with any questions: Planning Department, (970) 382-6263, or Megan Graham, public affairs officer, (970) 382-3265.
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