County planning director outlines overlay tools, options to curb storage-unit growth near Star Valley Ranch

Lincoln County's planning director (introduced as Ken Pelesky in the session) explained the county's community-plan overlay program and how towns can use overlays to shape development at municipal edges.

Pelesky told councilors overlays can add local constraints beyond the county's standard rules and offered examples including prohibiting man-camps, truck stops and certain commercial uses; he said the overlay is the first tool county staff uses when reviewing an application. Council members raised concerns about commercial storage units near the town perimeter and asked whether allowed conditional uses (CUPs) for commercial storage could be removed from the Star Valley Ranch overlay. "That is the goal," Pelesky said of removing storage from the allowed list, noting the county can also restrict expansion and cite violations when uses conflict with overlay rules.

Why it matters: Council members said storage facilities are increasingly appearing around the town and wanted clarity on whether the overlay could stop future storage development and expansions. Pelesky explained the county process for updating overlays (local public input, planning and zoning hearings in Afton, followed by BOCC action) and invited the town to submit suggested text and map adjustments ahead of an October update cycle.

Next steps: The town will collate planning commission and resident suggestions and forward recommended overlay language and maps to the county planning office for inclusion in the county's overlay update process.