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Planning commission recommends approval of open-space-to-conservation land-use application; elects 2026 officers
Summary
The San Juan County Planning Commission recommended council approval of land-use application 24-0036 (conversion of 41.5 acres to farm-and-ag conservation, 35 points) after a public hearing with no public comment. The commission also approved Dec. 19 minutes and named Rick chair, Serena vice chair and Gary Franklin secretary by consensus.
The San Juan County Planning Commission on Jan. 16 recommended that the county council approve land-use application 24-0036, a request from applicants Andrew Thomas and Karen Buck to convert 41.5 acres from the "farm and ag open space" tax designation to "farm and ag conservation." Planner Colin Makoff told the commission the conservation designation removes the active-farming requirement and that the application met the criteria for the maximum 35 points awarded to parcels larger than 20 acres.
"The application is to change 41 and a half acres from farm and ag open space to farm and ag, conservation," Colin Makoff said in his presentation, adding that staff recommended approval and awarding the maximum points for the parcel.
The commission opened the public comment period and recorded that no members of the public spoke. The body then adopted the staff findings and the staff recommendation; the chair announced the item had passed and that staff would forward the recommendation to the county council for final action.
Roll-call voting recorded affirmative votes from Gary Franklin and from the commissioners identified on the record as Sarah, Linda and Rick; the chair announced the item had passed. The department will transmit the commission’s recommendation to the council for their decision.
Other business: The commission approved the minutes of Dec. 19 on a roll call in which two members voted yes and one abstained. The body then held officer nominations by consensus: Rick was nominated and accepted the role of chair for 2026, Serena accepted nomination for vice chair and Gary Franklin was designated secretary; staff will support secretarial duties.
What’s next: The commission’s recommendation on application 24-0036 will be considered by the county council under the county’s land-use review procedures. Staff said they will include the findings and the recommendation in the transmittal to the council.
