Board tables appeal hearing for Gold Fork River Ranch subdivision after hours of testimony on water, wetlands and irrigation

The Valley County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing Feb. 10 on an appeal of Planning and Zoning’s Dec. 12 approval of CUP 24‑24 (Gold Fork River Ranch), a proposed 69‑lot single‑family subdivision on a 60.88‑acre site east of Costkeller Road and north of Davis Creek Lane. After several hours of testimony from the appellant, the applicant’s team, technical experts and dozens of public commenters, the board agreed to continue deliberations at a special session scheduled for Feb. 24.

What the project would be: The applicant, Gold Fork River Ranch LLC, requested a conditional use permit for a 69‑lot subdivision to be built in two phases. Lot sizes as presented to planning and zoning range from about 1.36 to 4.16 acres (project density ~0.42 units/acre). The application proposes individual wells and on‑site septic systems, three additional ponds in the southern portion of the site, about 12.53 acres of wetlands and open space in the northwest corner, use of pond‑excavated aggregate for grading, private internal roads to be deeded to the county later, and about 5.13 acres of road right‑of‑way dedication for Costkeller Road and Davis Creek Lane.

Why it was appealed: The appeal, filed in a timely manner, raised…