Angela Newell

This Growth Policy serves as a roadmap for Carbon County, providing decision-makers with a resource to balance diverse goals and foster a vibrant, sustainable community, reflecting residents' aspirations for future growth. The plan focuses on critical physical and economic issues, addressing key areas such as community and economic development (including infrastructure, housing, and managing growth impacts), tourism and recreation (expanding opportunities), natural resources and environment (ensuring responsible development and protecting water, air, and wildlife habitat), and land use and agriculture (preserving agricultural land and guiding development patterns). Its vision emphasizes maintaining agriculture, preventing adverse impacts on natural resources from land use, promoting economic enterprises that align with quality of life, supporting public safety, and fostering inter-governmental cooperation, all within a five-year planning framework.

The Carbon County Growth Policy serves as a comprehensive roadmap designed to guide land use decisions and foster a vibrant, sustainable community. The plan formalizes residents' vision for the county's future by focusing on critical physical and economic issues. It outlines strategic goals in land use and development, water resources management, financial management and public services, inter-governmental cooperation, and the protection of natural and environmental resources. The policy aims to ensure the retention of agricultural lands, safeguard environmental quality, promote appropriate economic development, maintain a high quality of life, and strengthen public safety and cooperative governance.

The meeting included discussions on variance requests for the Wagon Wheel Estates Subdivision involving elevated sand mounds and setback requirements from wells, surface water, and property boundaries. Other topics included the establishment of a working committee for an animal bite protocol, department reports from Environmental Health, Public Health, and Disaster and Emergency Services, and updates on housing initiatives for the County.

The key discussions and business for the meeting centered on a variance request from the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation for the Schuyler Commons multi-family housing development, specifically regarding relaxation of setback requirements for the second phase. The Board was also scheduled to discuss and potentially recommend action to the County Commission regarding the Carbon County Growth Policy and the Carbon County Subdivision Regulations. Public hearings included the variance request and general discussions on the Growth Policy and Subdivision Regulations updates.

The meeting included a roll call and the unanimous re-election of current officers, with Gordy Hill as Chairperson. The main business focused on two key areas: the RnR Elk Resort Subdivision (Amended Plat of Lot 10), which involved discussions on water usage, lot sizes, and the proposal to add a condition regarding shared wells; and the Carbon County Growth Policy, which saw extensive public comment concerning development guidelines, agricultural land protection, water availability, and the need for updated data. The board voted to recommend Commissioner's approval for the subdivision. Discussions also took place regarding the March meeting agenda and future discussion of the Subdivision Regulations.