Citizens will have chance to shape county master plan (Updated with meetings)

MONTROSE  — Next week, Montrose County residents have an opportunity to shape and form the development and growth of Montrose County through its master plan process.

The first round of public meetings will be held in four different locations throughout the county next week (see table), according to Winston Associates, the firm hired to help update the plan.

The master plan contains a vision statement, goals, policies and implementation strategies dealing with infrastructures, such as water sewer and roads. It provides guidelines and visions to managing wildlife, mining, oil and gas extraction, recreation, transportation, land use and resource conservation. The plan is used by the county commissioners and planning commission, influencing their decisions on these topics. It is a guiding document, not a regulatory document, County Commissioner Gary Ellis said.

For these reasons, it’s important for the community to be involved, said Jon Waschbusch, county senior planner.

There will be a variety of ways the community can participate and express opinions. For example, a “king/queen for a day” game will allow participants to place development “chips” on a map to suggest locations for new developments as well as what places are “sacred” and should not be developed, said Angie Hulsebus of Winston Associates.

Winston Associates also assisted in the city’s master plan and the public meetings will be similar.

The county started with the updating process in October 2008 and hope to have it completed by November 2009. There will be a total of three series of public meetings as part of the process.

The first and last county master plan was adopted in 2001, Waschbusch said.

“It’s kind of weak on transportation and is very, very general,” he said about the plan. “It doesn’t give details for implementation or actual guidelines. It lumps the county into one guideline.”

He said the 2001 plan has created hostility in that citizens come to the county with concern when possible development arises. Though the county may agree with citizens’ concerns, the plan allows it, Waschbusch said.

The new plan is expected to address some of the more controversial issues, such as the river corridor.

“It will address broader issues prudent to the county now,” Ellis said. He said the 2001 plan was appropriate for that time, but as the county grows, the new plan will express the community’s vision of the future.

Montrose County population is forecasted to grow from about 40,000 in 2007 to 60,000 by 2020 and 80,000 by 2035, according to projections by the state demographer.

A master plan Web site has been set up at http://www.winstonassociates.com/MontroseCounty/Home.html. The site will be updated throughout the process. It currently has contact information and contains the information obtained through stakeholder interviews already conducted.

Contact Kati O’Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com

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Meetings, 6-8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 13

Olathe American Legion

313 North 5th Street, Olathe

Wednesday, Jan. 14

Naturita Town Hall

222 East Main Street, Naturita

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Maher/Onion Valley Club

HWY 92, Maher

Thursday, Jan. 15

Montrose Pavilion