Park County commissioners approve rezoning east of Powell to allow residential subdivision

Park County commissioners voted to approve a zoning map amendment that rezones an 18.7-acre parcel east of the city of Powell from Industrial to General Rural Powell (GRP), allowing the owners to pursue a subdivision for single-family residential development.

Planning staff summarized that the parcel is about 350 feet east of Powell on the north side of County Lane 9½ and that surrounding parcels are a mix of agriculture, residential and commercial uses. Tim Delavan, Park County planning director, told the board the 2024 land-use plan’s suitability map identifies the property as suitable for development and that the parcel lies within a coordinated planning area that could be subject to future municipal expansion.

The applicants had sought the rezoning because single-family homes currently require a special-use permit in Industrial zones but only a building zoning permit in GRP. Cody Schatz of Engineering Associates, representing the applicant, said he spoke with the City of Powell about sewer and water infrastructure and that gravity sewer would not reach the parcel without a pump station if the property were to be annexed.

Commissioners discussed the record and staff materials and then approved the amendment. The board approved the motion to change the zoning map designation from Industrial to GRP; no recorded vote tallies were given in the minutes and the motion passed.

The change does not itself authorize subdivision or construction; subsequent permits, infrastructure work and required notifications remain necessary under county regulations. Planning staff said public notice requirements were met and no written public comments were on file at the time of the hearing.

The county’s planning department will continue to coordinate notifications with the City of Powell and other agencies as applicants pursue platting and building permits.