Commission sets Jan. 15 public hearing for proposed changes to county water-dedication rules
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Summary
The board set a public hearing for Jan. 15, 2025, on a first-reading ordinance that would consolidate and clarify Churchill County’s water dedication requirements, allow payments in lieu for all land development types and direct use of such payments.
Joe Sanford, speaking for county staff, presented the first reading of Bill 2024‑E, Ordinance 71, which would amend Titles 13 and 16 of the Churchill County Code to consolidate water dedication requirements, clarify how much water must be dedicated for different residential densities, permit payments in lieu of dedication for developments now ineligible for that option, and designate permitted uses for payments in lieu.
Sanford told the board that current code requires 2 acre‑feet of surface water dedication for created rural parcels, 1.12 acre‑feet of groundwater for higher-density single-family developments, and 0.56 to 1.12 acre‑feet for multifamily developments depending on density. He said the proposed ordinance clarifies ambiguities for multifamily scenarios, consolidates requirements into Title 13, and allows multifamily and other residential projects to use payment-in-lieu options that previously were not permitted.
The staff presentation said the change aims to create certainty for developers about water price and availability and that the county would charge a modest premium for payments-in-lieu to conserve future water resources.
Commissioners moved, seconded and approved setting a public hearing on the ordinance for Jan. 15, 2025. Because this was a first reading, no final adoption occurred; the public hearing will be the next formal step for the ordinance.
The record shows staff answered procedural questions and the board scheduled the hearing; no substantive amendments were made at first reading in the meeting transcript.