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Fremont County planning commission approves rezone and two‑lot subdivision at 360 Granite Hills Road
Summary
The Fremont County Planning Commission approved a zone change from Residential 3 to Residential 2 and a paired two‑lot minor subdivision for property at 360 Granite Hills Road in Cotopaxi, allowing the owner to seek smaller lots and creating conditions addressing drainage, setbacks and fire access.
The Fremont County Planning Commission on a unanimous voice vote approved a zone change from Residential 3 to Residential 2 and a two‑lot minor subdivision application for property at 360 Granite Hills Road in Cotopaxi.
Planning staff said the parcel is roughly 41 acres with a net tract area of about 35.5 acres after right‑of‑way adjustments for the DRGW Railroad and Fremont County Road 45. The zone change, staff said, would allow the property owner to apply for a subdivision with lots smaller than the 18‑acre minimum in the Residential 3 district. The applicant then filed a major/minor subdivision application proposing two lots: Lot 1 (about 26.367 acres) containing an existing dwelling and outbuildings, and Lot 2 (about 8.911 acres) vacant. Planning staff recommended approval of both the zone change and the minor subdivision with conditions.
Applicant representative Alan Dorn said he was assisting Ralph and Joanne Queueish and that the planned subdivision would give the owners “a little more flexibility” for future needs and allow a local resident, Judy Reedy, to remain in the area. Dorn confirmed Lot 1 would use a private well and on‑site septic and Lot 2 would be served similarly, and that the proposed lot areas meet the Residential 2 minimum lot size requirement.
Planning staff noted one area of the southwest corner of the parcel is inside a floodplain but said it did not affect the subdivision layout. Staff reported no written public comments; several people visited the counter with verbal concerns about potential loss of rural character related to smaller lot sizes.
The Western Fremont Fire Protection District submitted a comment requesting a two‑lane driveway to allow simultaneous response and evacuation in low visibility or smoke conditions. Planning staff said the applicant indicated willingness to work with the fire district and with Road and Bridge on driveway design, and the planning department recommended adding a plat note requiring the driveway to be constructed to the fire chief’s approval (or otherwise agreed specifications) before final development. Staff also recommended several plat notes and deferred technical elements until time of development, including a drainage plan and soil testing for an on‑site wastewater treatment system (OWTS) on Lot 2.
The planning and zoning department recommended the board approve the zone change and subdivision with these conditions: a plat note requiring a drainage plan at time of development; a statement that replacement or relocation of any nonconforming structures must meet current setbacks if rebuilt; approval of the soil‑test deferment until development; correction of plat notations (change zone label to R2 and remove adjoining owners’ names); and coordination on driveway design with the fire district and Road and Bridge. The commission moved and seconded approval; the chair called the question and recorded unanimous aye votes.
The approval authorizes the applicants to present the change and subdivision to the Board of County Commissioners for final action under the normal review sequence. Planning staff said it will coordinate with the fire chief to finalize driveway specifications before the BOCC hearing.
No fines, penalties or financial commitments by the county were approved as part of the action. The packet and the staff report note the applicant is responsible for any required construction costs, including driveway improvements and any deferred site‑specific work at the time of development.
