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Commission asks staff to map conservation easements and begin outreach in review of scattered rural-residential zoning
Summary
Commissioners reviewed a county map showing scattered 'ranchette' (formerly rural residential) parcels and asked staff to add conservation-easement data and start outreach to owners of large parcels as a first step toward potential rezoning.
Commissioners discussed a county GIS map that identified hundreds of scattered parcels zoned as "ranchette" (formerly called rural residential) across Albany County, including 650 parcels larger than 35 acres, 172 parcels in the 20'0-35 acre range and 47 parcels in the 10'0-20 acre range. Commissioners said many of the designations date to a 1997 inventory and do not reflect current planning objectives.
Commissioners raised concerns that the existing scattered rural-residential designations could allow subdividing under old rules (for example, a 5-acre average/2-acre minimum split) and that some large parcels appear vacant or are protected by conservation easements. The commission discussed whether to pursue a countywide rezoning cleanup (for example converting parcels under conservation easement to agricultural zoning) and agreed to start with lower-risk work: add a conservation-easement layer to the map, identify affected parcels and begin contacting owners of those parcels to gauge interest and confirm conservation status.
Staff and GIS clarified that the map categorized ranchette parcels into acreage bands and that many large parcels appear to be undeveloped. Commissioners said they preferred to begin with parcels already in conservation easements as a low-conflict first step and then consider additional steps for large parcels that are not protected. Staff agreed to prepare the conservation-easement overlay and assemble owner contact lists as a next step; commissioners expressed support to proceed with that targeted outreach.
No rezoning decision was made at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to begin the data-layer and outreach work and to return with findings and recommended next steps.
