Albany County denies zoning change for North Fork property; enforcement process to follow

Albany County commissioners on Thursday denied a request by Keith and Renee Morris to change the zoning of 100 North Fork Road from Ranchette to Small Lot Residential, a decision that leaves a second dwelling on the parcel out of compliance with the county's density rules and triggers a county enforcement process.

The denial follows public comment from multiple neighbors who said the property has been noncompliant for years and continues to be rented. Residents urged the county to reject the zoning change and to enforce existing rules; the property owner said the request seeks to "bring ourselves into compliance." The planning department and the planning and zoning commission provided competing recommendations to the board before the vote.

County planning staff presented the zoning district amendment application and reported the parcel was currently zoned Ranchette. Planning staff noted the property had an open enforcement case for two dwellings on a 4.08-acre parcel and said the department's…