Planning commission recommends downzoning 2.07 acres to A‑1 so applicant can use building eligibility outside floodway

The Lincoln County Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Commissioners approve a change of zone for roughly 2.07 acres of a larger parcel from I‑1 (light industrial) to A‑1 (agricultural).

Staff said the request would allow the property owner to use an existing building eligibility to place a single‑family home in a small portion of the parcel that lies outside the flood hazard area created by 9 Mile Creek. Toby Brown, representing county planning staff, told the commission the site is within the City of T’s identified growth area and that staff believes a downzone to A‑1 is the most appropriate and restrictive way to allow the home while keeping most of the parcel under its existing industrial zoning.

Brown said the subject property is undeveloped, a portion is in a floodway, and the applicant has purchased an acre of adjacent land to consolidate a buildable area. He said a floodplain development permit and a separate building permit will still be required before construction. “It still will require a flood plain development permit. That will be just an administrative action through staff,” Brown said.

Applicant Kelly Cawthorn said he had worked with staff for several months and had bought adjacent acreage to make the house possible. “We we kind of decided maybe it was just a nice place to live,” Cawthorn said, describing long residence in the area and familiarity with local drainage and past flood events.

Commissioners who spoke said they supported the recommendation given the site‑specific constraints. Commissioner Boots said the applicant “has been down there a while” and understands drainage and local conditions; another commissioner said rezoning was the first step and the applicant still would have additional work to complete before building.

The Planning Commission’s favorable recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners, which will take final action at a future meeting. On the commission’s roll call, Commissioners Sweeter, Otten, Boots and John Lee voted yes; no noes or abstentions were recorded.

The county staff report and the commission’s approval note that the rezone recommendation is intended to allow use of an existing building eligibility while minimizing potential development within the floodway; staff and the applicant said they had notified adjacent property owners and received no written objections during the review period.

The Board of Commissioners will make the final decision at its next meeting; the Planning Commission’s action is only a recommendation and does not itself authorize building or floodplain work.