This week's headlines

The Board of County Commissioners acting on Dec. 17 adopted an ordinance that adds a fourth requirement for obtaining county development permits on new residential or commercial construction. The ordinance applies only in the unincorporated area of the county.

The new ordinance adds the requirement for a site plan review on new construction. The requirement has been added to the existing requirements for a county address permit, a county road access permit, and a septic system permit.

The commissioners last year adopted the county's original development permit ordinance, which brought the process of obtaining address, access, and septic permits together under one umbrella procedure. The ordinance also prescribes penalties that may be imposed for not following the procedure.

In other business at their Dec. 17 meeting the Board of County Commissioners dealt with the following matters:

• The commissioners directed the county attorney to produce an ordinance for the boards' consideration concerning Amendment 64. The ordinance would effect the county's right to "opt-out" from parts of voter-approved Amendment 64 which "legalizes" recreational marijuana businesses. The ordinance under consideration by the commissioners would affect the unincorporated areas of the county only. If it follows other "opt-out" measures adopted by county municipal governments, it would place a temporary moratorium on marijuana retail, growing, processing, and testing businesses, collectively known as "marijuana facilities."

Other local governments are making their moratoriums temporary until the legislature gives some specific statutory guidance on the recreational marijuana amendment. At that point, expected by the end of July, local governments will be able to consider permanent regulations on the recreational marijuana business in their own jurisdictions.

First reading of the county attorney's ordinance is scheduled for the BoCC's Jan. 7, 2013 meting.

• The county commissioners let pass the BLM's deadline for commenting on the revised North Fork gas lease sale to be held in February.

The commissioners had addressed a number of their concerns with the original sale notice last year. The county's concerns dealt with drilling activity in areas that were near populations, on steep slopes, or that might impact water resources and infrastructure. The county's concerns were addressed in the revised sale notice, and the commissioners added to additional comments or concerns during the comment period, which ended Dec. 17.

Some 20,000 acres of property in Delta County's North Fork area is included in the BLM's sale notice.

The county received a letter form the Gunnison County Commissioners that states objections to the sale notice and proposed exploration activity on the 1,580 acres in that neighboring county that are affected. The 3,836 acres in Gunnison County originally included in the sale notice was reduced to 1,580 in the revised notice. Nevertheless, the Gunnison commissioners stated, "Although we appreciate the proposed alternative, there continues to be significant concerns as to the location and characteristics of the seven remaining parcels (in Gunnison county)."

• The BoCC held a recognition ceremony for Mike Clawson, manager of the North Fork Airport, which was named an "outstanding airport" by the Colorado Pilot's Association.

• Rundle Construction of Hotchkiss was the low bidder on a project at Adobe Buttes Landfill. The company won the job of installing liner in a new cell at the facility. The company's bid was $151,623. The high of six bids received was almost twice as much at $282,000.

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