Progress Continues, creating Routt County’s new UDC
The process began in February 2023 and is being undertaken to ensure the County’s new regulations accurately reflect the visions and goals outlined in the 2022 Master Plan. Please also check out the Routt County Land Use StoryMap. This effort has been made possible due to a generous grant received from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and the assistance of our project consultants at DesignWorkshop.
Page Sections:
“Please share, how do I get involved?”
“In a nutshell, what’s been done?”
I’m curious, how has the public been involved through the process?
Help me understand, why is Routt County updating it’s UDC?
Please share, how do I get involved?
Review and Provide Feedback on Draft Code Language
The Subdivisions, Land Uses, Development Standards, Planned Unit Developments, and Zone Districts sections was published April 4, 2024 (below) for the public to review and comment on. Revised draft language will be released for the public to review and comment on 5/9/2024.
Please feel welcome to submit a public comment via the “submit a public comment” button below!
Attend a Public Hearing to Consider Adoption Of Final Draft Language
May 16, 2024, 6:00 pm
Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners on the Final Draft Regulations.
May 21, 2024, 9:35 am
The Board of County Commissioners will consider ratifying the Final Draft Regulations.
Kindly note that the above meetings will be held in person at the BCC Hearing Room located on the 3rd floor of the Historic Courthouse at 522 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO, 80487 or virtually by zoom.
In a nutshell, what’s been done?
Adopted Code
The Renewable Energy section of the code was adopted and recorded on 12/13/2023.
Pulse Surveys - Completed
Three Pulse Surveys were sent out for the public to complete. These helped inform the draft code language.
Work Sessions Where Draft Code Language Was Discussed
After reviewing the draft code language, consideration of public comments (including pulse survey results), the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners discussed and provided direction for the final draft code language during the below work sessions. Please note that these work sessions were conducted as public hearings, therefore, public comment was welcomed and encouraged!
April 25, 2024
Focus areas included reviewing PUD Review Process, Subdivision Review Process, Land Preservation Subdivision Review Process, Wildlife Mitigation, Oil & Gas, Historic Preservation, Variances and Adjustments.
April 18, 2024
Focus areas included reviewing Zone District Changes, House Size Limits, Land Uses, Public Benefit, Cumulative Impacts
January 8, 2024
Discussed Subdivision Process, Land Preservation Subdivisions, Vested Rights, Environmental Reviews, and Oil & Gas
December 21, 2023
Discussed Camping, Workforce Housing, Public versus Private Amenity and Commercial Spaces, and Short Term Rental Enforcement
December 7, 2023
Discussed Zoning, Planned Unit Developments, Primary and Secondary Dwelling Unit Dimensions, and Land Uses
I’m curious, how has the public been involved through the process?
Public Engagement has been a crucial component of this process and will continue to be a priority through completion. Outreach efforts included thus far: four community workshops, one pop-up event, two stakeholder meetings, three public pulse surveys, and three joint work sessions (opened to public) that included members of the project team, Planning Commission, and the Board of County Commissioners.
The public was informed of these opportunities through advertisements in The Steamboat Pilot & Today, email campaigns in the form of Community Newsletters (reaching nearly 6,000 citizens), online via the Routt County Agenda & Minutes Center, Navigate Your Routt (this website), and multiple social media channels. Meeting agendas were regularly posted in the following public spaces: Planning Notice Board, BCC Hearing Room Notice Board, and Clerk & Recorders Notice Board. All public input and feedback received during the five advisory sessions with the technical working group was reviewed and considered by the project team, Planning Commission, and the Board of County Commissioners.
Help me understand, why is Routt County updating it’s UDC?
Routt County’s adopted a newly updated Master Plan in 2022 which articulated the community’s vision for the future. Based on previous community input, the community was interested in focusing on preservation of the County’s natural environment and open spaces of the Yampa Valley while also fostering livable, vibrant and sustainable communities.
In continuing this effort, Routt County Planning initiated an update to the UDC in February 2023. The project team, consisting of planning staff and consultants from DesignWorkshop, have collaborated with the public and relevant community organizations/stakeholders throughout the update process to ensure the County’s new regulations accurately reflect the visions and goals outlined in the 2022 Master Plan.