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Bill to require local review of new conservation easements draws mixed testimony
Summary
House Bill 23-63 would require proposed conservation easements to be reviewed by local planning commissions with public hearings before a city council or county commission may approve recording. Proponents said local oversight protects landowners; conservation groups and agricultural interests warned it would restrict a voluntary conservation tool and add regulatory uncertainty.
The Committee on Local Government heard testimony on House Bill 23-63, which would add a requirement that proposed conservation easements be submitted to the appropriate city or county governing body and referred to that jurisdiction’s planning commission for review and a public hearing before the governing body acts.
The Revisor described the new subsection: if the land subject to a proposed easement lies wholly or partially within a city, the governing body of the city would refer the proposal to its planning commission; the commission would have 60 days to review and make a recommendation, and failure to act within 60 days would be deemed approval for the governing body to proceed. The bill provides similar procedures for…
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