Crossroads: An update on zoning, housing, and neighborhood plans!
Last week, on May 10, Park County Commissioners voted unanimously to move ahead on a multi-month process to thoroughly consider a revised Conflict Mitigation Zoning Regulation. A new version of that regulation is out for public review under its new name: the Agricultural and Residential Preservation Zoning District.
The new version sets up a local regulatory structure aimed at large-scale commercial and industrial enterprises. Residences and agricultural uses are exempt from the proposal. While the proposed rule doesn’t go as far as some would prefer, we feel it’s a small step in the right direction.
Want to learn more? The Park County Planning Board is getting an update on the process at their meeting tomorrow, on Thursday, May 19, at 5 p.m. You can see the agenda here. You can Zoom in at this link.
Commissioners agreed they need to do a better job informing people about the regulation and the upcoming process to residents of all parts of the county. The county agreed to hold at least four public hearings (planning board and county commission hearings) moving forward and to ensure members of the public have multiple ways to provide input.
“Hoping for the best is not a strategy,” said Commissioner Bill Berg. Berg said it makes sense for a community to come together and decide what is appropriate for Park County.
Commissioner Tinsley said he supports a rule to mitigate conflicting land uses but cautioned the county “needs to do a better job of reaching out. We need to get the word out.”
PCEC strongly supports the Ag and Residential Preservation District, and we're going to make sure it's as strong as possible.
Now more than ever, we need local rules to help guide our future. We're facing new and old threats: a new proposed gravel pit in Paradise Valley; increasing development pressure in the foothills of the Crazy Mountains; and the ongoing threat of gold mining in Jardine.
Park County has no enforceable local rules to guide what kinds of development and industrial activities can take place in our community. This new rule would provide sensible guardrails and local control to new commercial and industrial developments.
Whether it’s gold mines or tire pits, local residents have spent decades fighting bad ideas that would harm our environment and a local economy that depends on tourism and agriculture, and a clean river. We need a local tool to prevent the most irresponsible ideas from the start.
Changes to the proposed zoning district include:
The most substantive change to the document includes revisions to the residential section, which now specifies all single-family dwellings (attached & detached), short-term rentals, bed & breakfasts, etc. to be allowed by right, without the need for a permit.
The Gardiner community (defined by the Resort Tax District) is now excluded from the Regulation. Gardiner is currently working on its own neighborhood plan.
The residential section has been revised to allow the following to take place without obtaining a permit: 1) single-family dwelling, attached or detached, which are for use as permanent human habitation, seasonable human habitation, or long-term rental; 2) short-term rentals that are permanent structures (does not include RVs, tents, etc); 3) bed and breakfast establishments; 4) guest ranches, outfitting or guide facility; 5) non-commercial recreation activities; 6) home occupations; 7) schools; 8) day care facilities and 9) government facilities.
Subdivisions, buildings for lease or rent and citizen-initiated zoning districts are exempt from review under the Regulation.
The non-conforming section has been revised to include a threshold, 25 percent, of change allowed to a non-conforming use before the Regulation and need for a permit kicks in.
The County has established the following public hearing schedule:
Wednesday, July 20, 5 p.m. via ZOOM - Planning Board public hearing.
Thursday, July 21, 5 p.m. - Planning Board public hearing, Park County Fairgrounds
Tuesday, August 23, 5 p.m. - Park County Commission via the County online platform.
Wednesday, August 24, 5 p.m. - Commission at the Park County Fairgrounds.
Lend your voice in support of Ag and Residential Preservation here!
Park County Housing Coalition Open House
The Park County Housing Coalition is holding an open house on Thursday, May 26, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Park County Community Foundation offices at 104 S. Main Street in Livingston.
Please join us for a brief presentation about the current and future work of the Park County Housing Coalition to learn more about how you can support increasing opportunities for Park County residents to access housing where they can afford to live and thrive.
You can learn more at parkcountyhousing.com/
If you have any questions, please contact Lila Fleishman at lfleishman@thehrdc.org.
Preserving Park County, One Conversation at a Time
One thing we’ve learned over the years is the power of conversation. Most things work best when we come together and talk. The December Crossroads spoke of the value of community-oriented discussions in preparing for the future of Livingston’s downtown, and the community of Gardiner.
Thanks to great teamwork by Planning Board member, Bryan Wells, and facilitator, Kate Stewart, Park County residents have been meeting in small groups to talk about the future. The effort is described as: “A bottom-up, non-partisan, independent project bringing folks together for the good of all. Every Park County resident is invited to participate.”
The goal is: “Building unity in our unique community, one conversation at a time.”
Bryan Wells, who was part of a community-wide effort a few years ago to oppose the proposed Lucky Minerals Gold Mine, says he hopes the effort “makes a difference.”
To learn more and sign up for the next group, check out the Park County Conversations website www.parkcountyconversations.org.