Franklin County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt revised countywide planning policies and directed staff to pursue interlocal agreements to improve coordination with cities on annexation, housing and infrastructure.

Wes McCart, the county’s planning and building director, presented the updated policies and said the revisions reflect recent state housing mandates and aim to distribute population growth over the next 20 years while improving county-city coordination. The update added new housing guidance, clarified annexation approaches, and bolstered economic development language, McCart said. He described the policies as "high level" guidance intended to be followed with interlocal agreements for concrete implementation.

During deliberations, the board accepted one suggested edit from Jeff Briggs of the prosecutor’s office: add the phrase “except where otherwise permitted by law” to the end of policy number 9, which addresses municipal limits on extending water and sewer outside urban growth areas. McCart said the amendment simply recognizes existing state exceptions and recommended its inclusion.

Commissioners and city representatives discussed longstanding challenges with so-called “donut holes” — unincorporated pockets inside or adjacent to city limits where connecting to city infrastructure raises questions about cost and regulatory requirements. Commissioners described situations where property owners must either upgrade to city standards (curbs, sidewalks, storm drainage) or continue using septic systems, and said costs such as building regional lift stations often make development financially infeasible without coordinated agreements.

Several commissioners urged the county to pursue interlocal agreements and periodic joint meetings with city councils to tackle infrastructure sequencing and development standards. McCart proposed turning some policies into interlocal agreements and conducting outreach to city councils; he said a comprehensive update of regulations and the comprehensive plan is targeted for completion in 2026.

The board adopted resolution 2025-233 with the added phrase to policy 9. The adoption was moved and seconded on the record and carried on a unanimous vote of the three commissioners present.