HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 2025 PZC Minutes Draft
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LINCOLN COUNTY
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING NOTES
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 6:00 P.M. Locations: Video Conference between the following locations: Lincoln County Courthouse, Commissioner Boardroom, 925 Sage Avenue 3rd Floor, Kemmerer,
WY & Afton Planning & Development Office, Conference Room, 61 East 5th Avenue, Afton, WY I. CALL TO ORDER
Karen Anderson called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm.
II. INTRODUCTION OF PZC MEMBERS Planning Commission Members: Karen Anderson, Chair
Chad Jensen, Vice Chair
Kevin Kilroy David Oates George Collins Lincoln County Staff:
Ken Kuluski, Planning Director
Elizabeth Williams, Planner II (Absent) Mikayla Hibbert, Planner I Katie Gipson, Planner I Austin Dunlap, Attorney (Absent)
III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Karen motioned to allow James McMurdo to voice his concerns to the Board, before the Sketch Plan. Chad requested to add LURs to Other Planning Matters. Chad motioned to approve agenda with changes. David seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
IV. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Kevin motioned to nominate Karen for Chair. David seconded. Motion carried 4-0. Karen abstained Kevin motioned to nominate Chad for Vice Chair. David seconded. Motion carried 4-0. Chad
abstained. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Karen motioned to approve the minutes with staff review and edits. David seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
VI. DEVELOPMENT REPORT Katie presented the Development Report for approved permits from June 23, 2025, to July 27, 2025. Kevin questioned permit number 504 TU 25 if the mining permit is valid to operate without DEQ.
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Karen questioned the hours of operations. Ken stated the permit is valid with an LMO 15 acres or less from DEQ and hours of operation are normal business hours. Ken will review the permit to ensure
compliance. Chad questioned permit number 219 RUS 25’s multiple applicants. Ken stated the permits
should follow the landowners on the deeds; he will check on the ownership and permit applicants. .
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS (NONE) Comment
James Mcmurdo (JD) Master Electrician, Raven Electric. JD is concerned with the need for building inspections to support the need for contractor license to work in this state. JD recommends having at least two building inspections, one on rough and one on finish. These inspections will support the need to have licensed contractors to do the work. JD stated that Wyoming is on current code cycle so
neighboring states may not operate on the same code cycle, and this may cause frustration for
homeowners. Kevin asked about the electrical permitting process. JD said it starts with a meeting with homeowners and a load calculation for the building. Then as an electrical contractor he must work with
the energy company for an application. Contractors must apply to the State of Wyoming for a permit to
wire the house, this ties the contractor to the building. JD mentioned the permitting stops at energizing. David clarified that the fire marshal conducts electrical inspections. Chad stated that any homeowner can install his own electrical system in his building. JD says he has been called to come and fix it. Chad asked what should be in place to make this work?
JD said he is here to address the issue of inspection. We (Lincoln County) must work with the State and make it a part of the permit process and attach a fee to this process. JD said it’s the State Fire Marshal that would cover the inspections, he admits we (Wyoming) do not have enough inspectors. JD stated some inspectors do not have a license or a background to do the inspection. David said the permit
process should dictate who has the authority to do their electrical. JD and David stated homeowners
should be allowed to do their own electrical in their own home. Kevin asked about Teton County. JD responded that Teton County has its own inspectors, three inspections temporary service, rough in and finish following IRC guidelines and requires an occupancy permit. Chad stated we are getting to the point where we need inspections more than just electrical. Karen said with exponential growth an
inspection and permitting process would help protect the public, foster economic growth and honor the
licensing and inspection contractors that are currently Wyoming licensed. JD said otherwise what is the point of 8 years and 16000 hours On the Job training. JD finished by says nothing in the County states you need to be applying for the permit and inspections as well. JD stated he is part of the local union 322 and offered to communicate with the union in this process. JD stated the Kemmerer plant will eat up a
lot of electricians. David asked about what states Wyoming accepts their electrician license. JD said
there are several states; Idaho, Utah and others are reciprocal in the state of Wyoming. JD stated Wyoming is on the current code cycle, he stated other states maybe on a different code. David said this makes contractors do the minimum unless stated otherwise. For example, no circuits are smaller than 12 gauge. Karen stated this may need to be a workshop as well.
Kevin stated this should be a state level issue. David said it’s a cost issue, whatever is done it needs to pay for itself. Chad said it’s frustrating and historically inspectors did not want to get in conflict with homeowners and installers. Kevin said that permitting doesn’t guarantee a better house. David said
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building permits are a high fee and it’s going to be a process. George stated maybe we should investigate other counties and follow their lead. George said we should get with the State and see what
they would support on inspections. Chad asked Ken and Staff to discuss and give a follow up to the PZC
Board. Kevin said look and see what surrounding Counties are doing. Karen motioned to have staff review inspections and permitting and report back to the PZC Board. Motion carried 5-0.
VIII. SKETCH PLANS Mikayla presented the Sketch Plan for a Major Subdivision, 159 Acres, LLC, within T36N, R119W, Section 14. The subdivision name will be changed to be more unique within Lincoln County.
Discussion over the determination of access and the 15 lot limit to single access is based on 30 total
residences. Scott Scherbel would like to restrict guest houses so not to require a second access point as a plat warning. Discussion on slope movement plat warning and development of the property. LUR’s do not prohibit building in areas with USGS possible slope movement. Scott discussed the improvements of Trail Ridge Road and Falcon Drive and making existing paved subdivision roads to current LUR
standards. Mikalya said the improvements are required to mitigate additional traffic on the road. We
have had Ross Road and Ruby Ranch Road brought to current LUR improvements in the pass. This can be done since the roads have a 60-foot easement. IX. OTHER PLANNING MATTERS
Chad discussed the need for paving on roads, but commissioners decided they don’t want to make developers pave roads. Chad says there is dust and mud on the roads. Developers are not concerned about affordability. If it’s not done right that’s what you live with.
Chad discussed the septic issue; we cannot kick the issue down the road. How many systems can
we have? Kevin said the County is easier than the municipality. The County and State provide incentives for development or improve districts for high density. David said the cities need to have plans for where they want the high density to be and provide a master plan. David said this could address things like storage units.
Chad asks if groups of RVs allowed when not hooked to utilities. Discussion on future LUR changes, resolutions and changes in permitting.
ADJOURNMENT
David motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Karen seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
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The minutes from the August 20, 2025 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting were approved on the _____ day of _________________ , 2025.
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Chair Dated Planning Director Dated