A public hearing is set before the Fremont County Board of Commissioners on April 12th to consider zoning amendments dealing with contractor’s yards in residential areas and the installation of small wind energy systems. Both issues were tabled by the commissioners on November 23rd after it was decided that the issues needed more study and changes in language.
An amendment was first drafted last summer because many small contracting businesses such as landscapers, electricians, or plumbers are technically in violation under Fremont County’s current regulations. The changes were pursued not to prohibit such uses but to help bring many of them into compliance. The county mailed letters to 99 such contractors to solicit input for a public hearing last October. Several contractors testified about their unique situations on their properties. The commissioners heard concerns that when it comes to regulations “one size cannot fit all” for various neighborhoods in Lincoln Park, Penrose, and Copper Gulch.
Initially the regulations focused on Home Occupations classifications and Special Mobile Machinery equipment identified under county zoning. A rewrite of the amendment in recent weeks has the proposed regulations now focusing on the total number of vehicles associated with a contractor’s business, the size of the lot, setback requirements for equipment or storage materials, and screening of the property with fencing or natural vegetation.
The commissioners also redrafted language under proposed regulations for personal use of small wind energy systems on a person’s property. The commissioners decided to further loosen the restrictions on the use of small wind turbines allowing one free-standing or roof mounted system for every building on the property. The regulations would restrict tower height to 100 feet, permit sale of excess energy, require a property line setback equal to the height of the tower, require turbines to be constructed of a non-reflective material, and require any building installations and battery storage to comply with all building codes.
The public hearing on the amendments for contractor’s yards and small wind energy systems is set to begin at 10 a.m. during the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, April 12th. The amendments can be reviewed in detail on the county’s website at www.fremontco.com. Simply click on the zoning amendment links on the home web page.