TJ Dlubac, of Community Planning Strategies, held a meeting in the West End June 11 to inform citizens of the county master plan update, a process that began last fall. Dlubac’s company and SCJ Alliance Consulting Services are assisting Montrose County. Dlubac gave a presentation at the Naturita Community Center, assisted by Talmadge Richmond, the county’s planning and development director.
Now, comments are open for the master plan update through the month of June. The planning commission will then review the draft in August, and the plan will be adopted in September or October.
Richmond recorded the session for anyone in the West End who couldn’t make the meeting, and the draft master plan is on the county website too at montrosecounty.net/1144/Montrose-County-Master-Plan-Update.
Dlubac said the plan looks 20 years into the future. He added that it contains no standards or ordinances, but is a framework that informs zoning and the review process. He also said that the master plan guides incorporated parts of the county.
It’s not been updated since 2010, and updates should happen every five to 10 years.
The county has identified the following as part of its vision and values: natural resources, agriculture, economic development, recreation and tourism, utilities and services, transportation, land use, housing and water. Dlubac said all are in agreement that agriculture is the cornerstone of Montrose County.
Former Mayor of Nucla Richard Craig asked Dlubac if the monument issue had been factored into the master plan update. Dlubac said no. Craig also asked about the senior citizens, and if they’d been included into the planning process. Dlubac said to read the “utilities and services” part of the plan and then comment.
Water was discussed, and those present agreed the West End is in a unique situation since individuals own water rights, while people in other parts of the county don’t necessarily. Dlubac did say that drought and development are worsening the water situation, however, and that’s something to consider.
Chris Daniels asked if the county had considered a bypass around the City of Montrose. Richmond said that’s been discussed. Daniels said it should have been a goal 25 years ago.
The idea of Highway 90 over the Uncompahgre Plateau being paved was also discussed. Richmond said it’s not shown in the transportation plan right now. He asked if that’s a mis-step on the county’s part. He said people can comment. Commissioner Sue Hansen said she wanted the West End’s thoughts and suggested people think 20 to 30 years out. Troy Masters said in 20 years, the West End will have more growth, and some roads like Norwood Hill could be congested or more dangerous.
“At some point we have to think of other alternatives,” he said.
Kenny Heldman asked about limits on solar arrays. Dlubac said the master plan was about getting the right uses in the right locales. He said the master plan update process could help direct where solar arrays could go.
Dlubac discussed the idea of a growth boundary. He said that’s calculated by extending three miles from a town’s limits, but then paring that pack further by a process of discussion. Related to sprawl, Dlubac said that the City of Montrose has an intergovernmental agreement with Montrose County. He said the city has the first right of refusal regarding annexation of property, and that the agreement looks at what makes the most sense for growth. Richmond asked attendees if they wanted to set a growth boundary in the West End or set up an intergovernmental agreement. Many but not all raised hands. Dlubac said it would give Nucla and Naturita authority and ability over growth patterns.
Craig asked about the resources listed in the county’s master plan. He asked why uranium wasn’t mentioned. Mayor of Naturita Gene Greenwood said that the current carbon footprint narrative is a lie, especially regarding waste with wind turbines and solar equipment. He said nuclear has come a long way in the last decade and that experts have alleviated many of the issues that gave nuclear energy a bad rap in the past.
