The Williams County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 5 approved two zone changes to create four new urban-residential lots near Blacktail Lake, voting to approve LU-0049-25 and LU-0050-25 despite a Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation to deny both. The actions allow minor subdivisions that would convert portions of larger agricultural parcels into smaller residential lots near the lake.

The approvals matter to a large group of nearby property owners who told commissioners at the meeting that increased housing near the lake would worsen overcrowding on the water, strain rural roads and emergency services, and raise concerns about the dam’s condition. Dozens of residents testified during the public-comment portion of the hearing, urging the county to slow or rethink development near Blacktail Lake.

Commissioners heard that Planning and Zoning recommended denial for the first parcel (LU-0049-25) by a 5–2 vote and denied the second (LU-0050-25) 6–1. Andrew Pocus, the applicant’s representative, told the board the parcels are intended to create smaller residential lots close to existing infrastructure and that rural water capacity would be sufficient. Several residents, including Kelly Iverson and Don Agee, urged denial. Iverson said approving a subdivision would invite additional requests to develop surrounding lands and that buyers would then be responsible for installing their own roads, power and utilities. Don Agee, president of the Blacktail Dam Association, said the lake is already crowded on holiday weekends and lacks the infrastructure to absorb more residents.

Other residents raised fire and public-safety concerns. Brad Hinchen said current volunteer fire response to Blacktail is slow and that increasing the number of year‑round residents could require additional emergency resources. Several speakers urged the county to consider a longer-term plan — including the possibility of increasing the lake’s size or improving the dam — rather than approving incremental subdivisions that could accelerate development.

Board discussion acknowledged the concerns. One commissioner noted the new lots represent a roughly 4% increase in landowners around the lake, while another urged Blacktail residents to consider municipal incorporation as an option for local control. After discussion, the board voted to approve both LU-0049-25 and LU-0050-25. Roll call recorded four yes votes for each motion.

Planning and zoning documents and the surveyor’s draft plat remain part of the administrative review process; recordation of the plat is contingent on final administrative approvals. Commissioners did not adopt additional requirements during the approval and did not set limits on future subdivision requests; several residents reiterated that approving these two parcels could make subsequent proposals harder to refuse.

The county will continue to handle access, plat recordation and coordination with rural water providers and the parks department as the plats move through administrative review.