Bicknell planning group adds Highway 24 to town's commercial-zone definition; mapping work ordered

Bicknell's planning and zoning committee reported that it and the town council approved adding Highway 24 to the town's commercial-zone definition, a change proponents said will clarify where commercial development can occur.

The planning representative said the body spent most of a recent meeting working through general-plan goals and then focused on the zoning map. Commissioners and council members discussed how far the commercial designation should extend from Highway 24, with proposals ranging from 221 feet to 528 feet (intersection to intersection). The group agreed the town's current maps are outdated and directed staff to obtain improved boundary and parcel maps from county or state sources.

At the meeting the council approved a motion to add Highway 24 to the general plan as part of the commercial zone. Council members said a next step is to draft explicit language for the commercial-zone description and to address one parcel specifically identified in the meeting for revision.

Officials set a timeline for further work: maps and a written description will be prepared for the planning commission's Nov. 18 meeting, with additional review in January and a planned adoption vote in February after the required public hearing and review steps.

Planning staff and commissioners emphasized the rationale: clearer definitions for commercial areas help the town evaluate incoming annexation requests and prevent unexpectedly large parcels from converting entirely to commercial use without articulated frontage setbacks. No specific code or statutory citation was offered at the meeting.