Park County Commissioner Scott Mangold reiterated what many of those opposed had previously intimated — they were concerned not with what was actually being asked, but as to what might result from that. 

“He hasn’t indicated he’ll put in a big subdivision, but you can see the writing on the wall,” he said. 

Mangold and all other commissioners present at the March 17 commission meeting (Dossie Overfield was absent) voted to deny a request for a landowner to combine parcels in and around a subdivision east of Cody. His intention was to create one larger lot outside of the subdivision and therefore outside the covenants, with the initial understanding to have it be in agricultural use. 

There were a number of comments from neighbors in the Paddock Estates Subdivision off Sage Creek, both during the general public comment period and extending into the public hearing following. That’s in addition to 14 letters, mostly in opposition, and a petition with 24 signatures opposed to the amendment and partial vacation. 

“We choose to live out there for the more open spaces,” resident Robert Crooks said. “From what I know, which is not much, it’s not appropriate for a rural subdivision. I would like to see that plan changed or modified so it’s more in keeping with the neighborhood we’ve enjoyed all these years.”

Commissioners all agreed with the concerns of the unknown possibilities, with Commissioner Lloyd Thiel questioning why, if the property owners want to use the land for ag, he couldn’t do so with the lots still divided. 

Rusty Blough, surveyor for the landowner and speaking on his behalf, countered that landowner Gary Ventling or his heirs or any other future owner of the property would not have a harder time creating a subdivision with smaller lots — the area is zoned for half acre residential — within the subdivision or without. 

Mangold said, as commissioners have been saying a lot recently, that this is yet another case that would be good to look at again once the new development standards and regulations, currently being worked on, are fully approved.