County adopts cemetery code amendment, lowers setback requirement to 20 feet

Morgan County approved a text amendment to its land‑use code on July 15 establishing standards for new cemeteries and adjusting setbacks and landscaping references. The planning department drafted the amendment and forwarded it with the planning commission’s unanimous recommendation. Nut graf: The text amendment sets a minimum parcel size, clarifies landscaping requirements (referring to the county’s commercial landscaping rules rather than creating a bespoke standard), requires vehicular circulation and minimum trails/access, and sets a 20‑foot minimum setback from property lines for burial plots. The amendment also suggested paved circulation for at least a portion of the site to improve winter access, but the language allows county discretion where strict paving would prevent development. Staff said the text was adjusted following planning commission comment to use existing commercial landscaping standards rather than a separate cemetery standard and to reduce some dimensional requirements to increase usability on smaller parcels. Commissioners voted to approve the amendment (amending setbacks to 20 feet) and directed staff to finalize ordinance language and publish it in ordinance form. Ending: The county clerk will publish the ordinance and staff will work with applicants to apply the new rules; commissioners noted they could revisit detailed standards (paving, variance provisions) if future applicants identify barriers.