Planning and zoning staff report 400-plus compliance letters; commissioners urged residents to use formal appeal process
Summary
Planning and zoning staff told commissioners they have sent more than 400 letters about right-of-way and related compliance issues, emphasized that decisions by the planning administrator are appealable and urged residents to contact planning staff first before seeking escalation.
Jefferson County planning and zoning staff reported significant enforcement activity, saying they have sent more than 400 compliance letters this year related largely to water in the road and obstructions in county rights-of-way.
“More than half of those 400 letters are for water in the road,” Planning and Zoning Administrator Milton (last name not specified) told commissioners. Milton said compliance work includes follow-up inspections and many cases are resolved after staff meet residents and clarify property lines and required actions. He asked residents who receive letters to contact planning and zoning so staff can measure on-site and, when necessary, correct mapping errors.
Milton emphasized the county’s administrative process for appeals. “The ordinance the county’s adopted says that every decision made by the planning and zoning administrator is appealable to the board. And but there's a process that goes with that,” he said, adding that residents cannot skip established procedures by demanding immediate placement on the agenda.
Commissioners and staff described outreach work in subdivisions and repeated that many residents did comply after meetings or follow-up visits. The county discussed specific common issues—trees and rocks encroaching on the right-of-way, irrigation systems watering onto the road, and mailboxes damaged by plows—and said Road & Bridge staff may remove hazards in some cases. Commissioner comments requested the county consider tone and clarity of enforcement letters; staff agreed to review the letter language and the process with the county prosecutor’s office.
Why it matters: the enforcement effort affects many property owners across the county and touches budget and maintenance work for road crews; clear communication and an appeals pathway are important for due process.
The planning office also said it is preparing documentation to report fines and other enforcement revenue for the board to review.
