Zone changes approved, Neely's denied

by Cat Urbigkit

Sublette County Commissioners Gordon Johnston and Betty Fear made quick work of a short agenda at a Tuesday afternoon commission meeting with Chairman Bill Cramer absent.

Melvin Bagley's zone change for 35 acres from agricultural to rural residential was approved, as was Susan Pape's zone change for a parcel of land near the Daniel Junction for Pape's daughter to use as a home site.

The commission denied Bucky Neely's proposed zone change from residential to multiple family residential. Neely said he wanted the change so that he could rent out the second floor of his house.

Neely's neighbors have been vocal in their opposition to Neely's proposal, noting that Neely has done what he wants without getting prior approval, and expressing displeasure at the idea of a multi-family unit amid the single-family dwelling area.

County Planner Joanne Garnett said while boarders are allowed in residential zoning, the house must look like and function like a single family structure.

Both the Town of Pinedale and the county planning and zoning commission recommended rejection of Neely's request.

"As it is, I'm doing nothing illegal," Neely said.

After a short discussion, the commission quickly denied Neely's request.

Jack Richardson's request for a zone change was next on the commission agenda. Richardson applied for the change on 28 acres of agricultural land to create 11 residential lots and one general commercial lot. The county zoning commission had recommended that the residential lots be authorized, but also recommended denial of the commercial lot that would have been used as the real estate sales office.

Fear recommended that the county commission adopt the zoning commission's recommendation, to which Johnston agreed.

The commission also approved a zoning resolution amendment allowing 10 children in home day care, up from the current limit of six children. The change sets the county standard at the same level as the state level.

On another planning issue, when questioned by Fear, Garnett confirmed that she feels she needs another person in her office to work on compliance issues and provide follow-up when compliance issues arise. Fear once again emphasized that people need to realize that the county does not enforce subdivision covenants. So if the problem is with lack of compliance with a subdivision covenant, the homeowner's association is the enforcer, not the county.

State Representative-elect Monte Olsen paid a courtesy call to the commission and expressed his desire to have a close working relationship with the county as he heads to Cheyenne to represent this district.