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Commission votes to recommend moving campgrounds from A‑1 to C‑2 zoning; public commenters urge enforcement and transparency
Summary
The planning commission recommended a resolution to move campgrounds out of the county’s A‑1 agricultural district and into the C‑2 commercial district so that rezonings would require county commission review. Public commenters raised concerns about a specific camp/subdivision approval and about in‑house approvals for two‑lot plats.
The regional planning commission on Jan. 28 voted to recommend to the county commission an amendment that would remove campgrounds and similar recreational‑vehicle uses from the county’s A‑1 agricultural zoning district and place those uses in the C‑2 general commercial district.
Commissioners and staff said the proposed change would not ban campgrounds but would require rezonings (or special approvals in C‑2) that go before the county commission, giving elected officials greater oversight. Proponents argued the change would limit the practice of establishing campgrounds across large rural agricultural parcels and provide more local review of potentially intensive uses.
During public comment, multiple residents raised a separate, ongoing dispute about a local site (referred to repeatedly as Grace Construction / the Jim Henry property) where sheds, bunkhouses and related building permits were issued; residents alleged the approvals were handled in‑house rather than being brought before the planning commission. Commenters asked the commission to pull the recorded plats and to provide written documentation of any delegation of authority that allows staff to approve two‑lot plats without commission action. Citizens asked for a written review of whether the recorded plat had the regional planning commission secretary’s signature as required by the county’s subdivision regulations.
Planning staff said the authority to approve certain two‑lot plats is rooted in state statute and longstanding county practice but agreed to locate and present the written resolution or policy that documents the delegation and to bring it back to the commission. Several residents said they believe the county’s subdivision regulations were not followed in the Grace matter and requested a review; a resident urged that any improperly issued permits be invalidated and that disciplinary action be considered if staff exceeded their authority.
After discussion and with no recorded objection, the commission approved a motion to recommend the proposed zoning change (moving campgrounds from A‑1 into C‑2) to the Jefferson County Commission for action. The commission also agreed to follow up on the public records request regarding delegation of two‑lot approvals and to supply the relevant documentation in a future meeting.
