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Marion resident urges removal from Hoytsville village overlay, calls code 'vague'
Summary
A Marion resident told the commission the proposed Hoytsville village overlay (Title 11, Ch. 3, para. 8) is too vague and could permit very high-density development; commissioners advised working with the community development director and organizing residents to pursue an amendment.
Mike Helsick, who identified himself as a Marion resident, told the Eastern Summit County Planning Commission he is "disturbed and saddened" by the village overlay proposal for Hoytsville and urged that Marion be removed from the code. Helsick said the draft overlay lacks definitions for village boundaries and maximum development sizes and contrasted a proposed 2,000‑home project with Colville's roughly 700 homes, saying the scale would not suit Marion's small‑community identity.
Helsick asked how residents can begin an amendment process before any application is filed so they are not forced to "adhere to the current guidance" once a proposal is submitted. Commissioners responded that the effort should begin with the community development director and encouraged the resident to gather community support, names and contact information so staff and commissioners can engage on a potential amendment.
The commission did not take formal action on the village overlay during the meeting; commissioners advised resident organizers to consult staff to explore an amendment path and return with more formal proposals or requests.
