Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners begin drafting ATV ordinance and plan pilot period for Crooked River Ranch area
Summary
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners discussed a draft ordinance that would allow off‑road vehicle (ATV/UTV) use on designated county roads and set a process for designating those roads by resolution. Commissioners requested a pilot approach with a sunset clause and more outreach to Special Road Districts, the HOA and neighboring counties.
Jefferson County commissioners reviewed a draft ordinance on June 15 that would allow all‑terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles on designated county roadways and in certain neighborhoods, subject to vehicle licensing and safety requirements.
The draft ordinance mirrors state statutory language on ATV use and proposes that the board designate the specific roads where ATVs would be allowed by separate resolution rather than listing them in the ordinance text. County counsel said that approach avoids republishing an ordinance every time a roadway listing changes.
Commissioners and staff discussed key implementation points: - Pilot/sunset: several commissioners and the sheriff recommended a time‑limited pilot (suggested 12–24 months after the ordinance takes effect) so the county can assess safety, enforcement workload and effects on road maintenance before making broader, permanent changes. - Coordination with special road districts and homeowner associations: several roads inside Crooked River Ranch and other subdivisions are maintained by SRDs or HOAs. The board asked staff to share a revised draft with the SRD and HOA and to seek an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding where needed before the board designates specific SRD/HOA roads. - Enforcement and staffing: Sheriff Pollock raised enforcement and oversight concerns and asked that the pilot allow time to measure impacts on patrol workload. The possibility of using grant funding for an ATV enforcement deputy was discussed. - Geography and continuity across borders: commissioners asked whether neighboring counties and nearby jurisdictions should be consulted in cases where county roads cross into adjacent counties. Staff said intergovernmental agreements would be necessary to extend enforcement across jurisdictional lines.
Next steps Staff will revise the draft ordinance to include language about a pilot period/sunset option, and circulate the draft to the Crooked River Ranch HOA and the Special Road District for comment. The board also scheduled a public input opportunity at the county’s Crooked River Ranch meeting on July 9 so residents can comment before the board considers a resolution identifying roads where ATVs are allowed.
Why this matters The ordinance would not create automatic ATV access to every road; instead, it sets the legal framework and a designation process. The pilot and outreach approach is intended to balance recreational and local economic interests against resident concerns about safety, noise and road wear.
Ending Staff will return with a revised draft ordinance that includes a sunset period and a proposed process to negotiate MOUs with SRDs and HOAs; the board expects a public comment session at the July 9 Crooked River Ranch meeting prior to any designation resolution.
