Proposed zoning changes would raise A‑1/A‑2 minimums to 15 acres, tighten frontage and setbacks

Planning staff outlined concrete zoning changes targeted at reducing fragmentation of rural parcels: raising minimum lot sizes in agricultural districts, increasing required public road frontage, deepening setbacks and tightening lot shape requirements.

Specifically, staff proposed raising A‑1 and A‑2 minimums from 1.5 acres to 15 acres for new standard lots; division thresholds would generally require 30‑acre parent parcels to create two conforming 15‑acre lots. Road frontage requirements were described generally at 450 feet (with some A‑2 variations up to 550 feet), setbacks increasing to about 250 feet in many cases, and a new minimum width‑to‑depth ratio of roughly 30% (up from 20%). Staff said those rules would mean remnant pieces must also meet acreage requirements and that parcels smaller than 30 acres could not split into two A‑1/A‑2 lots under the proposed standards.

Commissioners raised concerns about unintended consequences—especially for timber operations that depend on specific acreage thresholds—and about added costs for utilities and driveways when setbacks force building farther from roads. Staff acknowledged tradeoffs and agreed to further refine the ordinance language and examples for public hearings.