Planning commission recommends rezoning of McKinnon Road parcel to agricultural use

The Sweetwater County Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 12 recommended approval of a zone map amendment that would change about 4.9 acres off McKinnon Road (County Road 1) from commercial to agricultural zoning.

Staff presented the application, saying it was filed by applicant Curtis Foote and noting surrounding parcels are already zoned for agricultural use. "Mister Fu is requesting a zoning map amendment that is currently zoned for commercial use to be zoned for agricultural use," staff said during the commission presentation. Staff also told commissioners that former underground gas tanks on the site have been removed and that the land was inspected with no contamination reported.

The applicant, identified in the record as Curtis Foote, addressed the commission in person and described the site as a former store now used for storage with utilities disconnected. "All I'm doing is running horses on it," Foote said, adding he plans to live on the property.

After staff presentation and no public comment, a commissioner moved to approve the application and the motion carried. The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for a final decision.

The staff report cited conformance with applicable provisions of the 2015 Sweetwater County zoning resolution and noted that adjacent agricultural parcels mean the proposed designation meets the minimum district-size requirements for agricultural zoning. The commission recorded no negative comments from adjacent property owners in the staff report.