Final adoption of amendments to the zoning resolution, three public hearings, and consideration of a plat for a large subdivision north of Canon City highlighted a busy agenda for the Fremont County Commissioners Tuesday.
The Commissioners unanimously approved the 23rd Amendment to the Fremont County Zoning Resolution which was the subject of public hearings on March 28th and April 25th. The Commissioners noted that they resolved the issue which was of concern to most citizens. The amendment now permits orchards and vineyards in all agricultural zones including Ag Suburban and Ag Estates zones. Previously they were prohibited in those transitional ag zones and the initial language change would have permitted orchards and vineyards in those two zones with a minimum of 4 ½ acres. But after citizens told the board that orchards and vineyards already see widespread use in those zone districts the Commissioners decided to permit them with no acreage restrictions.
The Commissioners asked for more Planning Commission review on a requirement for 24" by 36" drawings on all submittals to the Planning Department. Commissioner Ed Norden said he wants to make sure that requiring larger drawings places no undue hardship on individuals or businesses who draw their own site development plans.
The Commissioners OK'd language in the amendment requiring traffic impact analysis for any zone change applications, but Commissioner Ed Norden asked that the Planning Commission also reexamine that requirement. Norden said based upon comments received during the public hearings and from other business people he’d like to see if a threshold could be defined as to when the traffic analysis would be required so as not to impose more burden than necessary upon small businesses in the county.
The Commissioners approved a preliminary plan for Mesas on Sunrise Ridge, an 89 lot residential development on 29.4 acres, which neighbors have complained about as being too high of density. Commissioners Mike Stiehl and Ed Norden noted comments by a pair of Planning Commission members who agreed that it is a high density development for that particular location. But the Commissioners said the mistake was made in the mid 90's when the 29 acres was zoned for low density residential development. Stiehl says in fact the county cannot legally prevent developer Allan Miller from such use of his property if he meets all of the zoning requirements.
The Commissioners approved a 'life of the mine' conditional use permit for Larsen Colorado LLC to open and operate the Byzantine Quarries west of Canon City. The quarry site is along County Road 69, two miles north of Highway 50, and a three-quarters of a mile west. The company plans to quarry rock and gravel on 175 acres. The permit allows up to 80 trucks to haul per day between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Hours of mining and processing will not be limited but no blasting will be allowed on weekends. The company must also apply dust suppressant on County Road 69 and the access road to the quarry.
In other action Tuesday the Commissioners:
- Approved a temporary use permit for the 16th annual Temple Canyon Hill Climb May 13th and 14th;
- Approved a special review use permit to allow an expansion of facilities for the Cody Park Community Church along Copper Gulch Road;
- Approved renewal of a professional services agreement with Armstrong Consultants of Grand Junction for Fremont County Airport improvements;
- Approved a special review use permit for expansion of the Seufer Tree Farm directly west of River Run Court and Raynolds Avenue on 4.75 acres. The permit was required since the non-conforming use in that neighborhood was being expanded by more than 25 percent.