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Commissioners approve new water regulations
Douglas County water zoning regulations were amended last week after unanimous approval by the Douglas Board of County Commissioners.
By By: Christine McManus
Douglas County water zoning regulations were amended last week after unanimous approval by the Douglas Board of County Commissioners.
Using water regulations to stop land development is not Douglas County's policy, said county commissioners Jim Sullivan, Melanie Worley and Mike Maxwell. Water is just one of more than a dozen issues the county reviews when considering development applications, the commissioners said.
About 40 residents attended the BOCC hearing in the middle of the day March 13. The crowd was about half that at previous evening hearings before the advisory Douglas County Planning Commission. After several hours of complaints and suggestions from western county residents, initial amendments were further revised.
Douglas County Assistant Planning Director Betty Allen originally drafted the amendments to update the 3-year-old water regulations. At first, she removed the planning commission from the regulatory process. That amendment was axed.
One provision protested by residents that remained was the ability to use open space water rights on other properties. Commissioners and planners said the residents might be able to use the water under open space some day.
The bulk of the amendments Allen wrote clarified and reorganized water regulations. The approved amendments eliminated a well test formerly required in Margin B, and added a well-field analysis requirement for appeals in Margins A and B.
The Douglas County Soil Conservation District submitted a list of recommendations to the county. Allen used most of the suggestions.
The planning commission approved the water amendments 4-1 Feb. 25.
Using water regulations to stop land development is not Douglas County's policy, said county commissioners Jim Sullivan, Melanie Worley and Mike Maxwell. Water is just one of more than a dozen issues the county reviews when considering development applications, the commissioners said.
About 40 residents attended the BOCC hearing in the middle of the day March 13. The crowd was about half that at previous evening hearings before the advisory Douglas County Planning Commission. After several hours of complaints and suggestions from western county residents, initial amendments were further revised.
Douglas County Assistant Planning Director Betty Allen originally drafted the amendments to update the 3-year-old water regulations. At first, she removed the planning commission from the regulatory process. That amendment was axed.
One provision protested by residents that remained was the ability to use open space water rights on other properties. Commissioners and planners said the residents might be able to use the water under open space some day.
The bulk of the amendments Allen wrote clarified and reorganized water regulations. The approved amendments eliminated a well test formerly required in Margin B, and added a well-field analysis requirement for appeals in Margins A and B.
The Douglas County Soil Conservation District submitted a list of recommendations to the county. Allen used most of the suggestions.
The planning commission approved the water amendments 4-1 Feb. 25.
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