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Supervisors press staff on affordable housing, code enforcement and rezoning of antiquated subdivisions
Summary
Board members raised code enforcement gaps, discussed strategies to bundle and resell decades‑delinquent small parcels and scheduled a planning work session to consider a zoning text amendment for SR 174 to make antiquated lots more developable.
Board members used a work session with Development Services staff to press for stronger enforcement of county codes, ask how the county will help residents in deteriorating properties and discuss a package of measures to make decades‑old, small parcels easier to sell or develop.
During the discussion, supervisors described recurring complaints about longtime code violations—multiple recreational vehicles, unpermitted guest‑ranch operations and junkyards—and questioned why fine revenue lines in the Development Services budget reflected zero actuals. Christine McLaughlin said no fines were levied in the reported period and reiterated that staff pushes for proactive remediation and voluntary compliance.
Supervisors asked whether small, antiquated subdivisions—parcels that in some cases have been in tax default for more than a decade and have been deeded to the state—could be rezoned or bundled to create parcels with utilities and marketable size. McLaughlin said staff plans a planning and zoning work session (scheduled for May 14 in the meeting discussion) to consider a zoning text amendment that would increase allowable accessory heights in SR 174 within antiquated subdivisions and explore special zoning areas to facilitate consolidation.
The board also discussed using the tax‑lien sale process and coordination with the treasurer and assessor to bundle contiguous defaulted parcels, aiming to assemble parcels of two to four acres that could support utilities and be more attractive to buyers. McLaughlin characterized this as an incremental process—starting near cities and areas with utility access—so the treasurer could achieve higher sale proceeds and return parcels to productive tax rolls.
On housing, McLaughlin briefed the board that the county will present a six‑month housing study the following week. She described several strategies staff expects to evaluate: rent assistance targeted to households with housing cost burden in excess of 30%, development of subsidized affordable housing where feasible, and using CDBG or HOME funds for emergency repairs (for example, replacing air conditioning or HVAC systems in emergencies). She said the county currently does not administer Section 8 vouchers.
Ending: supervisors asked staff for follow‑up on fines and enforcement metrics, for a clear plan to bundle and market antiquated parcels and for details on the upcoming housing study; McLaughlin said staff will return with recommendations after the planning and zoning work session and the housing consultant’s report.
