Planning director reports permit gains, upcoming Verizon tower and aggregate-mine deliberations

John Iller, Crook County Community Development Director, presented permit and inspection totals and previewed several land-use items the county will decide in the coming weeks.

"144 total permits for the month of January," Iller said, adding that January inspections totaled 748 and February inspections rose to 869. He told the board January’s total permits represented an increase over the prior year for that month, while February permits were slightly lower than last year (135 versus 163).

Iller listed notable pending applications: Harmony/Verizon cell-tower deliberations are scheduled for final deliberation next week in Palibute; an aggregate-mine comprehensive-plan amendment is scheduled the following Wednesday; and Hidden Canyon phase one is expected for an April hearing. He also said paperwork from the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) for the Goal 5 update is delayed by the state’s new system but the project remains on track once paperwork arrives.

The director emphasized that large projects under construction remain a focus for staff and that planning staff are busy reviewing several sizable applications. Commissioners asked procedural questions about how the city will present its economic opportunity analysis to the public; Iller said he expected that presentation to follow the city’s usual public land-use process at city hall.

Next steps: the commission will hear the listed land-use matters on the dates Iller identified and will receive the Goal 5 update work plan once DLCD paperwork is complete.