County looks to strengthen control over large-acre development

Is more control needed over what happens on Crook County land? The county commission is hoping its potential rules for large acre subdivisions will be enough but, as stated by Commissioner Kelly Dennis last week, may need to consider the idea of zoning.

The conversation cropped up during discussions of hiring a new secretary for the Growth & Development department to replace an outgoing employee, including what should appear on the job description for that person.

“I think we need to have a clear plan of where we’re going down the road to hire the right person,” said Tim Lyons. With land use as a significant part of the office’s purview, he asked if the county will be considering zoning and what kind of land regulation is likely in the future.

“Under current state statute, I don’t think there’s any other avenue that’s going to get us anywhere close to where we want to be,” said Dennis of the concept of zoning Crook County.

“We don’t have much stroke over large acreage developments and that’s beginning to really burden us.”

At present, county regulations provide guidance as to what a landowner may and may not do when it comes to such things as placement of mailboxes and cattleguards – but only if they own less than 35 acres.

Concerns have been mounting over the last year that there are no rules governing the much larger parcels that are now being sold, often to newcomers to the county. This prompted Roger Connett of the Crook County Land Use Planning and Zoning Commission to propose new rules for large-acre parcels last February.

On Tuesday, Dennis said he feels it’s inevitable the county will need to move in the direction of zoning, as many others are already doing. How exactly that takes shape, however, is something Dennis says he does not yet know.

Though there are some common denominators, he said, no two places are the same.

“You will find some counties or localities that have several times as much teeth and regulations and permits and everything else in their system as others,” he said.

“…We’re going to have to grow into that. It’s going to be a developing process.”

Hiring a person with experience in such matters to Growth & Development could be advantageous, he commented.

Lyons noted that he, personally, does not have experience with zoning because he has spent the majority of his life in Crook County.

“That’s why it’s going to be pretty critical that we hire the right person who has the will and the background on land use,” Lyons said.

Dennis agreed that this would enable the county to make the right moves the first time. He noted that he is aware there will be pushback to the idea of zoning from some members of the community, but feels confident that resistance is shrinking.

Lyons reminded the commissioners of the large acre subdivision rules that are expected to cross their desk soon. Zoning may turn out to be unnecessary with them in place, he said.

“If we can get this large acreage subdivision adopted, I think that’s going to significantly slow down this trend we’re seeing right now. I could be wrong, maybe it won’t make any difference, but I think it will slow it down some,” said Lyons.

He suggested seeing if the regulations do what the county is hoping for before considering plans for zoning. The commissioners agreed that this would be wise.

A hearing is set for the large acreage subdivision rules on June 13 during the Crook County Land Use Planning committee’s regular meeting.