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Kane County delays final adoption of water‑use general plan element after staff raise data and policy concerns
Summary
Commissioners continued discussion of revisions to the county general plan water‑use element—staff will reconcile population and water‑connection figures and review state comments after commissioners asked to soften prescriptive language (e.g., 'restrict turf') and ensure the plan reflects the county's limited direct authority over water providers.
Kane County commissioners on Oct. 14 continued (tabled) consideration of revisions to the county general plan's water‑use and conservation element after staff and several commissioners flagged unresolved data and policy issues.
Planning staff said the state requested additions (water budgets, landscaping guidance and projected connection counts) and submitted multiple rounds of comments. Staff noted gaps in the data for unincorporated population and provider connections (Big Water, Glendale, Kanab and other municipalities) and said they will reach out to municipal clerks and water districts to reconcile numbers before bringing the draft back for adoption.
Several commissioners objected to prescriptive language in the draft—phrases that "restrict turf" or require CC&R water‑conservation provisions—and asked staff to change directive terms to guidance (for example, to "encourage low‑water landscaping") unless state code explicitly requires stricter language. County counsel and staff agreed to review state comments and to return with a version that reconciles statutory requirements with the commission's policy preferences.
The commission voted unanimously to continue the item to the next meeting so staff can coordinate with state reviewers and water providers and incorporate corrected population and connection figures into the plan.
