“Residents in Page County value working landscapes, scenic viewsheds, natural resources and clean waterways” is what I heard at the kick-off of the county’s zoning and subdivision ordinance review and update.
Page County passed its first zoning laws in 1989, which regulate things like: What should residential districts look like? What is the best way to preserve farmland? What guidelines should exist for commercial design such as lighting, landscaping, signs and parking? Zoning and subdivision ordinances support a county’s comprehensive plan that provides the vision for the locality (as we mentioned in our summer 2020 newsletter feature Superheroes Need Good Sidekicks). And, as we know from experience, the type of development addressed in this zoning review can have an outsized impact on water quality if recommendations and requirements are not thoughtfully laid out in planning documents.
Since the process started in September 2020, members of the planning commission and board of supervisors have continued to meet and discuss changes to the zoning laws that include new planning definitions and design standards, clearer zoning maps, new overlay districts, and an overall reorganization of the ordinance so it is easier to follow.
We anticipate an opportunity for additional public input before final adoption. Residents know their county the best—so if you live in Page County, stay tuned to help shape decisions that will affect the county’s future.
(Photo courtesy Chris Anderson)