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Park County commissioners appoint three to Planning Commission as county drafts land-use rules
Summary
The Park County Board of County Commissioners voted to move three alternates—Scott Dodge, Greg Johnson and Cindy Sheriff—into regular Planning Commission seats during its Jan. 21 meeting as staff and commissioners referenced recent 2024 legislation that changes the adoption process for county land-use documents.
Park County commissioners on Jan. 21 appointed three alternates—Scott Dodge, Greg Johnson and Cindy Sheriff—to regular seats on the county Planning Commission as the county advances a new strategic master plan and draft land-use regulations.
County Chair Dave Whistle presided over the meeting and introduced the appointments, noting the volunteers had previously served as alternates and expressed willingness to serve as full members. Assistant County Manager Cindy Garst told commissioners the three had been appointed as alternates in February 2024 and had committed to attend meetings and to serve as regular members now that vacancies exist.
The appointments came during discussion of the county’s ongoing work to finalize land-use regulations and the strategic master plan. Commissioners and county counsel said a legislative change in 2024 affects the adoption process for those documents. County Attorney Aaron Smith clarified that the statute requires the planning commission to adopt the document and that the board of county commissioners must then consider and approve the board-level action.
Commissioners framed the appointments as important to ensure the Planning Commission can carry out its expanded review role under the recent legislation and to keep the master plan process moving toward adoption. The board approved the appointments by voice vote.
The commissioners thanked the volunteers for their time. The meeting packet includes the applicants’ prior alternate appointments and the staff recommendation to elevate them to regular members; no public opposition was recorded during the public-comment period, which had no speakers.
The appointments are intended to help the county meet the procedural steps set by the planning process and the referenced 2024 legislation while staff continues drafting the regulations and master plan. The board did not adopt the land-use regulations at the meeting; commissioners said the Planning Commission will carry much of the review and that the board will retain the final approval authority.
