The county is seeing a rush of new proposed subdivisions in the rural Powell area, with three subdivisions totaling 28 lots considered at an Oct. 7 meeting and two more developments and five lots reviewed on Oct. 21.

Concerns about loss of ag land and increased density resurfaced during the Park County government’s recent discussions. At their Oct. 7 meeting, commissioners were told that the preliminary plat for the Buena Vista Estates major subdivision had drawn some objections.

The development would feature 16 lots sized between 2.2 and 7.6 acres on Lane 11 1/2, about 1.5 miles south of town. The 50-acre property, owned by Walt Carlson of BSBWY LLC, currently hosts irrigated cropland.

Multiple people spoke out against the plans at an earlier Park County Planning and Zoning Commission hearing, before that board recommended approval of its sketch plan.

Park County Planner Kim Dillivan said issues included concerns about the proposed lots being “excessively dense,” general issues with development and an agricultural exemption.

Commissioners decided to table their decision on preliminary plat pending further information about the exemption, which reportedly was intended to keep the land in agricultural use. The previous owner of the property added the stipulation in the 1980s, before selling it to Carlson’s father.

Commissioner Lloyd Thiel said he was concerned about the development in light of the exemption, even though he said Park County Attorney Bryan Skoric has determined that the language allows the landowner to get around the stipulation. 

“This one is difficult for me,” Thiel said.

While not ready to say he’s opposed, “there’s still that ag exemption concern that unfortunately may not have been done properly, but the intent was to keep the land in ag,” Thiel said. “That is a major concern with people of Park County. I believe the intent was for that purpose.” 

Turning irrigated ag land into a subdivision has been a concern in the county for years, as exemplified by the concerns surrounding the Buck Creek Estates subdivision between Cody and Powell. The development caused consternation among people concerned about water issues and the loss of farmland and objected to the eventually approved project. A number of houses have since
been built.

Concerns about the loss of ag land also arose as people flocked to the area during the Covid pandemic and provided a part of the impetus for the recent revision of the county’s land use plan.  

Also at their Oct. 7 meeting, commissioners approved the minor, four-lot Sunflower Estates subdivision, after rezoning the 18.7-acre parcel of land from industrial to GR-P. That designation allows residential lots as small as 1 acre, but owners Jill and Seaton Smith plan to create lots that are between 2.9 and 6.5 acres in size. The property, which also is currently being used as irrigated cropland, is located just east of Powell on Lane 9 1/2.

No new public comments were received on the Sunflower Estates nor the eight-lot Pioneer Place subdivision south of Powell, which commissioners also approved.