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Castle Valley planning commission organizes data entry for 2025 general plan survey; Sept. 24 deadline confirmed
Summary
At its Sept. 4 meeting, the Castle Valley Planning and Land Use Commission discussed procedures for compiling responses to the 2025 general plan survey, agreed to seek volunteers for data entry, and planned follow-up with the consulting analyst; the commission also heard a short permits report.
The Planning and Land Use Commission of Castle Valley met Sept. 4 and spent its substantive discussion on preparing to compile and analyze responses to the town’s 2025 general plan survey, which the commission set to close on Sept. 24.
Commissioners and staff agreed to prepare a single spreadsheet that will record each survey as one row with a column per question and a companion column for any optional written comment. Commissioners discussed working in pairs for data entry — one reader and one inputter — and solicited volunteers to begin entry in September so the dataset can be provided to the consultant for analysis.
The commission emphasized that the consultant who performed analysis for prior plans (referred to in the meeting as “Obi”/“OB”) should be contacted to confirm whether he is available and whether he prefers a particular template. Commissioners said the goal is to have survey results formatted so the analyst can generate percentages, comparisons (for example, full-time residents versus part-timers), and charts for use in drafting the plan. Commissioners noted that some questions changed from previous surveys, so any existing templates may need updating.
The discussion covered data-entry logistics: assigning a numeric ID to each paper survey, capturing quantitative answers as single coded values or columns, and keeping open-ended responses attached to the question they address so the comments can be extracted for reporting. Commissioners and staff described approaches used in prior cycles — double-checking entries by running two people through surveys and putting essay answers into spreadsheet cells so they can later be exported.
Commissioners said they will ask for volunteers to help with entry and proofreading; several commissioners and residents present offered to participate. Staff agreed to search town records for prior spreadsheet templates and to contact the consultant to confirm a preferred submission format and availability.
The commission and staff also reviewed the building/permits summary for August: five permits were approved in August, including a rooftop solar redesign for Lot 46 (Neil Hutchinson), a replacement septic tank for Lot 100 (Wendy and Bill Guston), a new residence permit for Lot 227 (Danny Cricket), and a septic approval for Lot 367 (Richard and Jennifer Carr). A rooftop solar permit application was reported for Lot 164 (Mitch Stock). Commissioners noted activity at 386 Homestead where a house has been torn down and a new driveway cut; staff said they were in communication with that property’s owners about permitting.
Timing and next steps discussed: commissioners expect to begin drafting plan updates after analysis of the survey results and anticipate holding the public hearing on a draft plan in 2026. Staff will contact the consultant to confirm his role and will compile a blank spreadsheet template for commission review; volunteers will begin data entry in September and continue through the Sept. 24 closure date.
Votes at a glance
• Adoption of agenda — Motion to adopt agenda as presented (mover: Dorje Koner; second: Jamie Tuft). Recorded voice votes noted as “Aye” and the chair declared the agenda adopted. Outcome: adopted.
• Approval of minutes, Aug. 7, 2025 — Motion to approve minutes of the Aug. 7 regular meeting (mover: Jamie Tuft; second: Marie Hawkins). Recorded roll-call: Janie — Aye; Marie — Aye; Dorje — Abstain; others recorded as aye. Outcome: adopted.
• Approval of minutes, Aug. 14, 2025 (special meeting) — Motion to approve minutes of the Aug. 14 special meeting (mover: Jamie Tuft; second: Janie). Recorded roll-call included Dorje, Janie, Marie and others voting Aye. Outcome: adopted.
• Adjournment — Motion and second to adjourn; unanimous recorded voice votes. Outcome: meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
The commission directed staff to contact the consultant to confirm availability and template preferences and to assemble the spreadsheet before data entry begins. Commissioners agreed to solicit volunteers to perform paired data-entry shifts in September so the consultant can begin analysis promptly after the survey closes on Sept. 24, 2025.
