Minutes 11-21-2025-Retreat Meeting

Browse Search

134 Commissioner Fowler said she didn't have a problem with the language regarding the rural buffer. Cy Stober said Chair Bedford said at work session that the language was too broad, and they are fine tuning the language Commissioner Carter said she thought that the concern was about postponing a conversation until after the plan was approved and that the Board should have an opportunity to weigh in on that before the drafted revisions are made. She said the current plan says it will be re-evaluated down the road over the ten-year cycle, but that the Board doesn't want to wait to have those conversations. Commissioner McKee said if they are not going to have an honest conversation about the rural buffer, then they might as well go home. Kelly Guadalupe asked if the Board could clarify if changes to the rural buffer can be included in engagement window three. Commissioner Greene said for her it is not up for discussion. She said for a long time the county's position has been that they will not make any changes to the rural buffer unless it is part of a collaborative conversation with the other parties. She said that wanted to see a finalized land use plan and then the county can have the conversation with the other parties. Kelly Guadalupe said it appears there are different opinions on this topic, and it will affect moving forward with engagement window three. Commissioner Fowler said she thinks it is important to get public opinion on the rural buffer, because the county has an idea of conservation subdivisions, but they are currently excluded from the rural buffer. She said if you want people driving less, and people are going to move out there, it seems like the county should allow them in the rural buffer. She said it likely won't be many and it makes more sense to put them closer to town than, say, to Person County. Kelly Guadalupe asked the Board if they want conversation on the rural buffer to be part of engagement window three. Commissioner Greene said she could support having in the draft the notion of conservation subdivisions in the rural buffer. She said she would not want the rural buffer to be eliminated in the draft. Cy Stober asked the Board to re-read the draft plan because he felt that staff did a good job of incorporating their feedback as well as the public's. He asked that the Board send questions or comments to the Planning Department so they can be prepared to respond. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if Planning staff considered the memo from the County Attorney's Office on housing when drafting the land use plan. Cy Stober said yes. He said they the main piece that was not incorporated was the economic analysis. He said they've had conversations with the development community, home building community, affordable housing community, and they incorporated that along with all the environmental materials as well as public feedback. He said this is not his plan, this is the county's plan. He said they tried to strike a balance and want to serve the county's interest. He said they would provide an update to the Board on what has been implemented. Chair Bedford asked for the memo from the attorney's office to be forwarded to the Board. Cy Stober said he would send it. Commissioner Carter said she would like re-review the draft plan. She said reviewing it together would be helpful because each person will pick something different up. Kelly Guadalupe asked the Board when the Board would want to have another conversation after reviewing the plan and making notes about topics that could be removed. Commissioner McKee said that the holidays will affect their ability to meet. Kelly Guadalupe encouraged the Board to review the plan for topics that could be removed.