Planning panel reviews zoning near Castleview

By Sun Advocate

The Carbon County planning and zoning board discussed a request for a zone change from residential to commercial at a meeting Tuesday.
“It appears that this kind of zoning would be more in line with the existing occupancies there,” said board member Richard Tatton, referring to the fact that much of the property around the piece of ground is zoned commercial, even a residence next door.
But board member Lynna Topolovec was concerned about how the ground is going to be used .
“It will be a medical office building,” explained Gina Gagon, who requested the change on the property.
Topolovec said she was concerned about the lighting on the building and in the parking affecting residents in the area. She also turned her attention to the conditions that could be set on such property.
County zoning director Dave Levanger indicated that conditional use permits can be used on commercial property.
“What I am asking is if the owner of the property will work with us on problems that might affect residents in the area,” said Topolovec.
“Certainly we will,” said Gagon. “The building will have two parking areas, one for staff and the other for patients. I am just concerned for the safety and health of our patients so the lighting will have to adequate. We will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. so there will be some hours the light will be needed.”
While there are only two residents currently in the area, the ground behind where the building is to be constructed has been earmarked for residential development as well.
Gagon said that while she has not directly talked with the developer of that property about this exact situation, they seemed to like the idea of something going on that property rather than it being a vacant lot.
“I just want to be sure we have some imput from neighbors,” said board member Bob Welch.
Levanger reminded the board that the system will allow for that imput at a later time if their approval is given. That happens in the public hearing section of the approval process, when the issue comes before the county commission.
“I know that I am also required to send out certified letters to land owners around the area informing them of the the proposed change,”noted Gagon.
Topolovec said she felt that 1000 West which separates the hospital complex from the residential areas has been a good buffer.
The lot for the new building is located on the other side of the road from that complex.
There was some discussion about where commercial property should be in the county in relationship to industrial and residential property, but Levanger ended that discussion by pointing out that “the transition between industrial and residential is the commercial zone.”
The board approved sending the zoning change to the county commission.
The planning commission also approved a change of 10.38 acres of land from Mining and Grazing to Residential-2.5 at 1800 South and 900 West. The owner plans to only build one residence on the property and officials say if they do decide to subdivide that property further, the issue will have to come back through the planning commission.