Commissioners adopt Carbon County comprehensive plan and Greenways, trails and open-space plan

The Carbon County Board of Commissioners voted on June 5, 2025, to adopt two planning documents: the Carbon County Comprehensive Plan and the Greenways, Trails and Open Space Plan, marking the completion of a 16-month planning process.

Tim Staub, the project manager for the county planning effort, briefed commissioners on public engagement, findings and next steps. Staub said the process began in January 2024 and included discovery, outreach, visioning and development phases. He described two parallel plan structures, each with thematic chapters, goals, implementation guides and a grants-and-loans list for potential funding sources.

“The comprehensive plan has four themes: housing, outdoor economy, infrastructure and placemaking,” Staub said. He summarized common findings: varying housing demand by geography, loss of housing stock tied to outside purchases increasing prices, rising childcare costs and recreation pressures from tourism. He said implementation tables identify lead entities, timelines, priorities and suggested funding sources.

Staub told the board both documents were advertised and posted on the county website and had been reviewed by the county planning commission and adjoining municipalities as required by the Municipalities Planning Code and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources guidance. Commissioners raised no substantive questions during the presentation.

The board made two motions to adopt the plans; both motions carried unanimously. Commissioners also heard a brief closing comment from the board encouraging public review and participation in implementation.

The adopted plans include implementation tables and a list of suggested grants and loan programs; Staub said the materials also note potential regional coordination for shared infrastructure needs and suggested that local fire-company listings be revised to reflect regionalization. The commissioners did not vote on funding or immediate implementation actions at the meeting; the adoption makes the documents official county planning guidance and enables staff and partners to pursue listed implementation steps and grant opportunities.