Planning, zoning commission fast approaching decision time for buffers
James Tilson
Staff writer
2-23-2017
MANTI—The Sanpete County Planning Commission received an update from a consultant on the Sanpete County Resource Management Plan (RMP) and continued discussion on the “buffer zone” issue.
Shannon Ellsworth of Rural Community Consultants, the firm helping the county develop the RMP, reminded the planning commissioners that the deadlines for submission of the plan to the Sanpete County Commission was fast approaching.
Ellsworth told the commissioners the final RMP would be up for their approval at next month’s meeting. Therefore, any changes or comment by the commissioners needed to be completed within the next three weeks.
After approval by the Planning Commission, the RMP would be set for public hearing in May. Once that was completed, the RMP would be sent to the county commission for approval in June.
Ellsworth reminded the commissioners that by law the RMP had to finalized and sent to the Utah Legislature before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
In the discussion on buffer zones, Loren Thompson, commission chairman, challenged the members to create a definition of “buffer zone” before next meeting, so when the commissioners meet and talk with various city councils, there will be a framework to move the discussion forward.
Commissioner Leon Day reminded the commissioners that annexation plans that the commission was asking from the cities was something that the cities were supposed to have already compiled as per state law.
Thompson agreed, but noted that the state had made that requirement at least 12 years ago, and many of the plans may be out of date. “We are asking them to re-evaluate” their annexation plans, and then consult with the Planning Commission, he said.
