Commissioners approve rezoning of Huntington gift to create Monroe County Nature Preserve

Monroe County commissioners voted on Jan. 29 to approve Ordinance 2025-45, rezoning 409 acres deeded to the county by Nancy Huntington for recreational purposes into Institutional Public to enable development of an entrance, maintenance building and other amenities as part of the Monroe County Nature Preserve.

Planning commission staff presented petition REZ-25-6 and said the planning commission recommended approval by a 7–0 vote. Mr. Brown, who presented the petition to the commissioners, reviewed existing structures on the property, noted the county’s status as petitioner and summarized department comments, including a highway note that right-of-way activity permits will be required for the proposed driveway entrance and a stormwater note that grading and stormwater permits will be reviewed at the time of development.

Parks staff described an intended program of improvements — including an entrance, maintenance building and a dog park — and said the parks department expects to act as general contractor, which staff estimated would save significant costs to taxpayers. The board held no public remonstrance and approved the ordinance by voice vote.

Why it matters: the rezone clears a frequent procedural hurdle that allows the county to move forward on site planning and permitting for public use of the Huntington gift. Planning staff advised that uses must remain consistent with the judge’s order governing the deed’s recreational-purpose restriction.

Next steps: planning and parks staff will pursue permitting and site plan review; the highway department required that a right-of-way activity permit be submitted prior to site plan review for the proposed driveway entrance. The county did not specify a construction schedule at the meeting but staff encouraged the public to contact Monroe County Parks and Recreation for details.