Renew America Success Stories

Fremont County Comprehensive Plan and Development Code

Description

The Fremont County Comprehensive Plan and Development Code was designed with the input of a large cross section of local citizens to ensure that future development in the region would be consistent with residents' values. Through a series of public hearings, a plan was developed that recognizes the value of open space, natural resources and productive farmland as central to maintaining the existing culture and economic vitality of the county.

In developing the plan, each part of the county convened an advisory committee that identified local areas the residents and businesses thought were important to conserve. The community of Island Park, for instance, emphasized protecting wildlife and open space. The committees then assigned absolute and relative points to these regions. The rankings assigned in this manner by each committee were then combined to guide the planning process in writing a development code designed to reflect the county's conservation values.

One of the guiding principles that resulted from this process was the belief that both the county's natural assets and productive farmland were keys to keeping local businesses productive. As a result, the community produced a development code that concentrates activity in already developed areas, while avoiding development on or near farmland, stream corridors, steep slopes, open space and environmentally-sensitive habitat.

By bringing together a large cross section of county residents through a process that encouraged a discussion of community values, Fremont County was able to produce a development plan that promotes the health, safety and general welfare of the people of Fremont County while assuring that future development will be both economically and environmentally viable.

Program Highlights

• Industrial land uses that have the potential to adversely affect the environment are not permitted.
• The plan discourages "leap frog" rural development, which can be costly to taxpayers.
• The plan directs development to compatible areas.
• Requires businesses to pay for new infrastructure costs (e.g., roads, sewer and law enforcement), so that the costs of development are born by developers.

Vital Statistics

Program Management/Partnerships: The Fremont County Comprehensive Plan and Development Code was developed by the Planning and Zoning Commission in partnership with numerous local residents, businesses and organizations.

Budget: In review.

Community Served: The diverse residents of Fremont County.

Measures of Success:

More than 100 local residents participated in advisory committees or community meetings conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission throughout the county.

Fremont County was the 1990 winner of a water quality protection award from the Pacific Northwest Water Pollution Control Association.

A large recreational facility proposed for a currently undeveloped and scenic open space was rejected because it did not comply with the conservation goals of the plan.

Success stories designed by Mark W. Nowak

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