Park County OKs Wild Sage Minor Subdivision 93 sketch plan with conditions

The Park County Board of County Commissioners on Thursday approved the sketch plan for Wild Sage Minor Subdivision 93, a proposed five-lot subdivision northeast of Powell, with conditions set by county planning staff.

Planning staff summarized the application as a request from applicant Joe Ramey for a five-lot subdivision consisting of two 7.27-acre lots, one 7.32-acre lot, one 7.57-acre lot and one 10.65-acre lot, each intended for grazing and residential use. The board voted to approve the sketch plan “with staff recommendations.”

Staff said the property is in a GRP zoning district and that proposed lot sizes are consistent with that district. Relevant agencies responded with standard service notes: the Bureau of Reclamation raised no objection to the subdivision not having fencing; Park County Fire District No. 1 requested access points built to accommodate fire equipment; Garland Light & Power and Montana-Dakota Utilities identified service options; and Northwest Rural Water District (NRWD) indicated it has capacity to serve the lots but that a main extension will be required to serve one lot. Park County Public Works said access will be from Lane 5 and Road 6, that no new roads are proposed, and currently there are no drainage or erosion-control concerns.

County staff read the conditions into the record. Among them: the applicant must provide easements requested by utilities and districts and show them on the final plat; the applicant must either state shared-driveway maintenance responsibilities on the final plat and disclosure statement or provide a recorded maintenance agreement; an approved long-term noxious-weed-management plan is required prior to final plat review; the applicant must provide either executed water service agreements with NRWD or water analyses from a well within one-half mile if the applicant chooses well service; evidence of an existing legal perimeter fence, written consent from adjacent landowners that a perimeter fence is not necessary, or plans to construct a perimeter fence must be provided; a subdivision improvements agreement may be required; proposed water wells must be permitted by the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office prior to installation; and the Wyoming Right to Farm and Ranch Act of 1991 notice must be placed on the plat. Staff also advised sketch-plan approval will expire after 12 months unless a final plat application is filed, with one six-month extension possible for good cause.

Applicant Joe Ramey spoke during the public comment portion, saying he had obtained neighbor consents but that one neighbor was initially hostile when asked to sign the county’s standard consent form. Ramey said he also contacted the Bureau of Reclamation and was told a letter the bureau provided should be acceptable even if it did not appear on the county form immediately. He told the board he had received consent from three neighbors and that the bureau indicated it had no objection.

Commissioners asked staff to clarify the fence condition and whether the language requires a fence to be built before the final plat review. Staff and counsel explained the condition gives three options (existing fence, written consent from adjacent landowners, or plans to construct the fence incorporated into the subdivision improvements agreement), and that evidence of whichever option is selected must be submitted prior to final plat review.

The motion to approve the Wild Sage Minor Subdivision 93 sketch plan with staff recommendations passed on a voice vote.

The board’s action is limited to sketch-plan approval; the conditions must be met and documented before the county will accept a final plat for recording.