Commission postpones Colorado River protections ordinance hearing; staff flags possible single-family exemption

The Planning Commission was informed that the staff recommendation on the proposed Colorado River Protections Ordinance may be adjusted to exempt single-family building-permit developments from new erosion-hazard protections, and that the public hearing for the ordinance is postponed to Feb. 25.

Matt Holland of Watershed Protection read a staff note into the record describing outreach concerns from single-family property owners along Red Bluff Road and similar streets. Holland said staff’s “main focus is on larger infrastructure roads, water and wastewater lines etcetera and commercial and multifamily projects that might build too close to the river without sufficient consideration of erosion protections.” He added that single-family projects are already subject to the existing 100-foot erosion hazard requirement and that staff would likely support exempting single-family building permits from the changes under consideration.

Holland said: “Staff are less focused on individual single family projects which already do have the existing 100 foot erosion hazard requirement… So we just wanted to note it is likely that you the planning commission and the council will consider exempting single family building permit type development from this change in erosion hazard zone protections and we staff would support that as well.”

The item (Colorado River Protections Ordinance, listed as item 13 in the consent/agenda read) was reported as postponed to the Feb. 25 hearing date.

Ending: Staff offered to continue discussions with the community and return at the scheduled public hearing on Feb. 25.