Should property owners have to pay to add a gas tap on each lot line if subdividing close to a gas line?

Park County commissioners rejected the county rule and granted a variance for a two-lot subdivision in rural Powell with the caveat that an easement be granted on the property to allow a future owner to pursue a natural gas connection to the property if desired.

County policy requires a subdivision with lots near 400 feet of a gas line, to pay to add taps on the lot lines to allow for gas connections to each lot. The owners of the lots in the new Gillett minor subdivision near Lane 10/Road 11 requested a variance to the rule as they plan on using propane instead.

Commissioner Lloyd Thiel asked if the variance was to be granted — he said he approved of the motion to allow the variance — it may be time to examine whether the rule was needed.

“If the rules are no longer needed, let’s get rid of them in the future,” Thiel said.

Commissioner Lee Livingston agreed, saying the county had previously changed rules that had required phone lines to lots and another that had required Northwest Rural Water taps to nearby lots.