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County, city discuss Sunrise Trail urban renewal and conservation zone to protect Masden barns
Summary
County staff briefed supervisors on the Sunrise Trail subdivision and an allied conservation/open-space zone the city drafted to protect the Masden (Masden/Maasdam) barns. Supervisors asked legal review and expressed concern about ceding zoning jurisdiction over county-owned historic property; city and county officials emphasized preservation intent.
County and city officials described plans for the Sunrise Trail subdivision and a related urban renewal (TIF) and development agreement intended to encourage small-lot, workforce housing and to protect nearby historic resources.
Staff said the first phase would create roughly 31 shovel-ready lots (about 60-by-120 feet) with infrastructure expected to be bid this spring and installed by mid‑summer so lots can be sold next year. The county is coordinating incentives and developer outreach, and a builders/developers luncheon is scheduled for Feb. 12 to discuss workforce housing tax credits and development incentives.
Separately, city staff presented a draft conservation and open-space zoning overlay designed to protect culturally significant places such as the Masden (Masden/Maasdam) barns, allow limited park and low-intensity agricultural uses, and waive some permit fees for publicly owned structures. Key elements in the draft include a minimum lot size standard (3 acres), limited permit fees for publicly owned facilities, definitions to exclude standard agricultural parcels, setback and building‑identification requirements for overnight-occupancy cabins, and an explicit carve‑out to avoid unsafe‑building demolition rules for historic structures.
Several supervisors voiced concern about ceding zoning authority when the city annexes county-owned historic property and asked the county attorney to review the draft. Board members asked for clarification of ownership and protections so that county-owned historic structures remain protected after annexation. City staff said the zone is intended to preserve, not restrict, the barns and that the draft allows livestock units tied to state code and a path for variances through the Board of Adjustment.
The board did not take final action; members requested staff and counsel to further review legal implications and to consult with the Masden Barns stakeholders and the conservation board before returning with recommended language.
