Changes to a land use code must be made gradually, and the process must include all stakeholders who will be affected. If either of these principles is breached, the process will be flawed, and the changes will not work. All sides must cooperate and work together to establish a rules-based code successfully.
Grand County government has proposed sweeping changes to the existing land use code that will affect everyone who lives and does business in Grand County. Unfortunately, Grand County has drawn up these changes without collaboration with most Moab-area stakeholders. The proposed changes to the land use code were released to the public one week ago within the agenda of the Grand County Planning Commission. Wisely, the chairman of the Planning Commission tabled the proposed changes to allow further study after an outcry from unrepresented community members, which were legion. Chairman Campbell must be commended for her action. It shows the planning commission recognized, after hearing the public comments, that the proposed draft of changes to the land use code must be inclusive to be successful.
Any time future land use is considered, changes must be documented for everyone to understand. A county commission must explain why changes are being made before making them. Assessing problems that may be created requires cool heads and community involvement. If an average citizen can understand why changes must be made, the public is more likely to support them.
Kevin E. Clyde
Moab
