HomeMy WebLinkAbout20242788.tiffMEMORANDUM
TO: Board of County Commissioners
DATE: October 21, 2024
FROM: Elizabeth Relford, Interim Planning Director
SUBJECT: Ordinance 2024-17 — 1St Reading —
Amending Chapter 24 — Utilities Coordinating
Advisory Committee
The purpose of Ordinance 2024-17 is to streamline the Weld County land division
process by removing the Utilities Coordinating Advisory Commission (Utility Board) from
the code. The Utility Board is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to
review proposed subdivision plats, specifically utility easements, in accordance with
Chapter 24 subdivision requirements, prior to the public hearing at the Planning
Commission.
Since the required minimum easement widths are in code, staff believes the process can
be streamlined so the Utility Board isn't tasked with the same exact review as staff. Staff
will continue to refer applications to the utility companies for their review and comments
and require utility representatives to sign subdivision plats prior to recording. The last
Utility Board meeting occurred on December 14, 2023. The number of subdivision
applications is minimal, and based on comparisons with other counties, no agency has a
Utility Board as part of their land division process.
A work session with the Board was held on October 14th, 2024. Staff recommends
approval of Ordinance 2024-17 with an effective date of November 28, 2024. Please see
the attached ordinance for more information
I am available to answer any questions you may have.
2024-2788
Sec. 24-1-40. - Definitions.
For the purposes of Chapters 24 and 27, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings stated in this Section:
Uti i rAdvisory Committee: A voluntary advisory board appointed by the Board of
County Commissioners. The Utilities rdi ing-Advisory Comm shall review -ail subdivision
plats for conformance with established -4 lacement of til ties withlo
s-ub Board.
Sec. 24-3-60. - Easement standards.
A. Fifteen -foot (15') feet minimum crainage and utility easements are required adjacent to
public road rights -of -way, unless otherwise reco-mmencied by the Utilities Coordinating
Advisory Committee for technical purposes.
B. Twenty -foot (20') feet -minimum drainage and utility easements are required along internal
lot lot lines and shall be apportioned equally on abutting properties, unless otherwise
-lines -Coordinating Advisory Committee for technical purposes.
C. Ten -foot (10') fee minimum drainage and utility easements easements are required along
exterior lot lines, unless otherwise justified by the Utilities Coordinating Adv
for technical purposes. Corner exterior fats requires fifteen (15) feet.
D. Easements shall be designed to provide efficient installation of utilities and drainage swales.
Proposed easements may be modified by the Advisory Committee.
Public utility installations shall be located to permit multiple installations within the
easements to avoid cross connections, minimize trenching and adequately separate
incompatible systems.
E. For Resubdivision applications, the Director of Planning Services may reduce the required
easement widths from those shown in Subsections A through C of this Section, or eliminate
the required easements entirely, based on existing easements in the Subdivision or Historic
Townsite and referral comments from utility companies.
Sec. 24-3-180. - Underground utility requirements.
E Deviations from the requirements shall be permit-ted only with the approval of the Utilities
isory-Committee.
Sec. 24-5-70. - Final plan procedure.
A. The Minor Subdivision Final Plan application shall be processed according to the following
procedure:
/1. The Department of Planning Services shall schedule the Minor Subdivision Final Plan
utility design on the first available Utilities Coordinating Advisory Committee meeting prior
to the Board of County Commissioners hearing. The Utilities Coordinating Advisory
Committee shall review the Final Plan for compliance with- Section 24-3-60 of the Weld
County Code, as amended.
Sec. 24-6-60. - Final plan procedure.
A. The Rural Land Division Final Plan application shall be processed according to the following
procedure:
4. In the event the application includes a drainage and/or utility easement which deviates
from Subdivision Design standards for easements per Section 24-3-60 of tie Weld County
Code, the Department of Planning Services -shall schedule the Rural L-a-nd Division Final
Plan utility design on the firstt-a
prior to the Board of County Commissioners hearing. No Utilities Coordinating Advisory
Committee is required if the proposal adheres to the easement standard criteria. The
Planner may schedule a U-tities Coordin-ating Advisory -Committee if deemed necessary.
Sec. 24-9-40. - Procedure.
A Resubdivision application shall be processed according to the following procedure:
D. In the event a utility easement is affected, the Department of Planning Services shall
schedule the Resu -iv-ision request on the first available Utilities Coordinating Advisory
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