The Lake County Planning Commission received a broad set of staff updates during its Jan. 13 meeting covering public outreach, transportation and infrastructure studies, pending land‑use applications and department projects. The commission approved minutes from the Dec. 9, 2024 meeting and agreed to forward a set of member appointment recommendations to the Lake County Board of County Commissioners for action on Jan. 24.

Planning department staff described a week of community outreach tied to the comprehensive plan update and a mobility study. Planning staff said the county will hold a Spanish‑language event at Full Circle on Feb. 4, a community kickoff and a community coffee on Feb. 5, and an event at Freight on Feb. 6; staff asked commissioners to prioritize attendance at the Feb. 6 Freight event. Melissa, planning department staff, said the mobility study will examine transportation and mobility issues in Mountain View Village (east and west), the northern corridor north of the 91/24 intersection toward Gateway, the busy Mountain View Drive and Poplar intersection, and potential coordination with CDOT on proposed roundabouts at Highway 24 and 91.

Staff told the commission the mobility analysis also will examine an area around Macquarie and Highway 24 related to a potential expansion at the county landfill and the feasibility of a bypass road to move industrial traffic off the state highway through downtown. Josh (present at the meeting) was identified in discussion as a contact for landfill operations and potential impacts; no formal decisions were made during the meeting.

The commission was told the county has contracted with EPS, Economic & Planning Systems LLC, to research development impact fees and broader infrastructure funding tools. Staff described the work as a study of whether to pursue impact fees for infrastructure, safety, services and housing or to consider alternative funding mechanisms such as use taxes on materials. Staff said the study will examine options tailored to Lake County rather than assume a single model.

Other planning projects noted by staff included Harrison Park master planning (public outreach planned in late January at the public library), design work on a coroner’s facility adjacent to the southern fire station (pending a site‑plan review to come before the commission), and an airport industrial park master‑plan RFP being developed in coordination with tourism and economic development. The department said it hopes the airport industrial park work will produce shovel‑ready options and that joint funding was budgeted for the study.

Land‑use schedule items flagged for the commission included a preliminary plan and PUD for Timber Ranch, scheduled for Feb. 10 (staff asked all members to attend in person for public hearings); a rezone application for Timber Ranch will be heard on Feb. 24. Staff also noted a Fox Creek gravel‑mining application that needs additional intersection and road‑maintenance information, and other pending site plans and a conditional use permit for an accessory dwelling unit.

Staff reminded commission members that, where possible, the department is requesting in‑person attendance for public hearings rather than remote participation, to support applicants and the hearing process. Staff also said they are planning refresher training on quasi‑judicial procedures for new alternate members and invited commissioners to attend a session the county is arranging with the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) if available.

The commission reviewed board‑appointment recommendations staff will present to the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 24: staff recommended reappointing Heather Lind and elevating Jason Ruffo to regular member status, and appointing Ryan Hills (resident near West Park / 16th Street) and Dave Jurich (resident and property owner in Twin Lakes, an engineer by occupation) as alternate members. Staff said these appointments would fill the commission’s seven seats for 2025. The planning commission did not take the appointments as a final vote at the Jan. 13 meeting; staff will present the recommendation to the board on Jan. 24.

Short‑term rentals and backcountry structures were briefly updated: Cece, planning/code staff, reported that the short‑term rental renewal period ended Dec. 31 and that 19 standard licenses were not renewed; staff plan a compliance check in the coming weeks. On backcountry parcels, staff said they issued one backcountry‑structure license in 2024 and have seen steady interest in those parcels; staff are continuing outreach and education about permitted structure types.

Staff also announced that Howard (longtime planning commission member) has tendered his resignation after decades of service and said he is willing to remain until replaced; staff proposed presenting a plaque to mark his service at an upcoming meeting.

Votes at a glance
• Approved minutes from Dec. 9, 2024 (motion to approve made during the meeting; mover/second not specified in the transcript; outcome: approved).

What this means going forward
Staff told the commission the upcoming February hearings (Timber Ranch preliminary plan on Feb. 10; Timber Ranch rezone on Feb. 24) will require in‑person attendance where possible and that many of the department’s outreach events are intended to feed the comprehensive‑plan update later in 2025. No land‑use decisions were taken on applications besides the routine approval of minutes; the department will take the appointment recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 24 for formal action.

Ending note
Staff asked commissioners to notify the office as soon as possible if they cannot attend the Feb. 10 hearing in person and said more information and calendar invites for outreach events will be distributed by email.