Commission adopts snow-storage rules for development, scales minimums down after debate

Morgan County commissioners on June 3 approved a new snow-storage code amendment intended to require on-site or off-site snow storage for new development and parking areas, with the commission adopting adjustments to the staff-proposed percentages.

Planning staff had proposed percentages between 25% and 30% of uncovered parking area as the required minimum for snow-storage, with a 10-by-10-foot minimum for very small sites. After discussion, commissioners agreed to lower the percentage requirement for larger parking areas to 15% and to raise the minimum guaranteed storage footprint for very small lots to 400 square feet (a 20-by-20-foot area). They also approved language that gives developers the option to meet snow-storage obligations through engineered retention or detention basins; when an on-site basin satisfies stormwater and snow-storage needs, the code provides a specified reduction in required surface storage.

Staff said the ordinance fills a local code gap: prior county land-use rules did not spell out snow-storage requirements. Planning commissioners had recommended approval (4–0) at a prior meeting; the county commission’s refinements were intended to make the requirements achievable for larger parking lots while still ensuring clear standards for winter maintenance. The commission voted to adopt the ordinance with the discussed modifications and directed staff to fix minor formatting and numbering in the final ordinance text.

The new rules apply to development applications in zoning categories the code lists and include enforcement and penalty provisions; staff said the county will review outcomes and adjust standards later if needed.