The Jefferson County Commission tabled a rezoning request for a property owned by the Hahn family after commissioners and planning staff recommended alternatives to the applicant’s proposed Ag-10 rezone and subdivision plan.

The applicant seeks to change zoning from Agricultural 40 (Ag-40) to Agricultural 10 (Ag-10) to allow smaller lots and to provide separate parcels for family homes and a commercial shop. Planning staff described the parcel as about 110 acres, with areas of heavy lava rock that make development costly in parts of the site. Commissioners said they were concerned that an unrestricted Ag-10 rezoning—which would permit smaller, residential lots—could permit parceling the property into multiple home sites that would not align with the county’s vision for that corridor; several commissioners noted the front portion of the parcel is more suitable for commercial uses.

The applicant told the commission the plan is not to place many residential lots on the land but rather to establish three house sites for family members and to develop the front portion of the parcel for a commercial operation tied to vehicle and equipment reconditioning. The applicant said the operation already has a high-capacity paint booth on hand and had upgraded site power: “We have actually, acquired a half a million dollar paint booth that is bought and and paid for. We're in conversations with Volvo Construction Equipment for North America,” the applicant said, describing prospective commercial work and existing capital investment.

Planning staff and commissioners discussed alternative approaches. Planner Milton (planning staff) recommended exploring a clustering approach or a split zoning: cluster the residential lots in a portion of the site (which could allow smaller lots for houses without authorizing a broad conversion to Ag-10) and reserve the front portion for a later rezoning to commercial or industrial standards needed for the paint booth and shop. Commissioners expressed the same concern: one said, “I don't think AG 10 is the answer,” and suggested returning the application to Planning and Zoning after the applicant and staff agree on lot layout and a development agreement or clustering plan.

The commission agreed to table the rezoning and asked the applicant to meet with planning staff to develop a revised proposal that would allow the three house sites the applicant described while preserving the option to rezone the front commercial portion later. The applicant said he would meet with staff and return to the commission; commissioners said they would consider the matter at a subsequent meeting after Planning & Zoning review.

Next steps: the applicant will meet with planning staff to work through clustering or a split-zone approach and possible development agreement language. The rezoning will return to Planning & Zoning and to the commission after staff and the applicant produce revised materials.