Land use regulations are not new to Park County. 

I know — at least I hope — most people, especially property owners, already know this. 

Some, obviously, do not, as Commissioner Scott Mangold said he discovered when a new resident called him up and said he moved to Wyoming to avoid regulations on his property. 

This part of Wyoming has less regulations than many parts of the country, but there are some regulations, and I'm sure all of our new neighbors would agree to at least some of them. 

For instance, it wasn't too long ago that a group of South Fork neighbors argued successfully to prevent a neighboring property from expanding a cabin to allow for more summer campers — the neighbors said the area wasn't meant to have such a program in operation at all, much less expanded. 

And on the North Fork, a whole host of residents objected to a cell tower being built in the valley. Of course, they were also objecting to a fellow landowner's right to rent her property to the cell tower company for that use. 

And let's not forget the business in Clark that planned a yoga retreat at the mouth of the Clarks Fork Canyon. Residents were very much against that building. 

Many people I've heard from have also objected to prime ag lands being turned into subdivisions, and to adult entertainment businesses, wind farms or solar farms just about anywhere. 

Land use regulations are complicated, and those who enforce them, such as county Planning Director Joy Hill, are often attacked for following those rules set by previous county commissions. 

As Hill wrote in a letter to the editor last week, people should critique her for decisions she’s made, not for ones she has no control over. 

Even the county commissioners only have so much say over current regulations, as the latest were amended in 2015, before any of them were in their positions. 

These amended regulations are, therefore, their first opportunity to actually shape regulations. So, instead of being angered by what has happened before, use those examples to push for better rules in the future. 

And instead of writing off our county officials and commissioners as bound to make decisions against our interests, let's do what many have rightly suggested and provide input as to what we'd like to see in our areas. 

There is still time to be part of the solution, instead of simply pointing out the problems.