Revised regulations that build on the new Park County Land Use Plan can’t come soon enough.

At last Tuesday’s Park County Commission meeting, as the commissioners discussed whether to allow a variance for a resident to build a cabin to use as a short term rental, Commissioner Scott Mangold remarked that the applicants had timed their request well, before there are new regulations in place that could make it more restrictive to operate a non-owner occupied short term rental in the county.

Commission Chair Dossie Overfield said they might have actually timed it too early, since as it stands now, with no clear definition of a short term rental in county regulations, the planning and zoning department has found what it considers the closest definition: as a highway commercial business and, basically, a hotel/motel. 

In the end, the variance request was denied by a 3-2 vote. The applicants asked what appeals they could make and were informed they could take the matter to the courts or, as Overfield said, wait the required year and bring it back before the county, by which point there will hopefully be regulations on what short term rentals are considered and where they should be allowed. 

For the issue of short term rentals and many others throughout the county, the regulatory changes that stem from the recent land use planning process should clear up many issues that now are left too much to interpretation. 

Commissioners say they’re trying to do what they’ve heard people want through the many public meetings held during the land use plan process.  But there were many, many opinions, big disagreements and sometimes conflicting desires, such as the landowner who says he doesn’t want the county to tell him what he can do on his property.  But is that neighbor putting up a new building? 

New regulations — that shouldn’t have to mean a lot more regulations — will hopefully give landowners a clearer idea of just what we can and can’t do on our land — that latter category shouldn’t include much as private property rights ought to be a foremost guide. And it should give clear guidance on what projects need  an application for a variance or a special permit, etc. Much of this is already laid out, but after the recent influx of new residents and more building, there are certainly some issues that need to be cleared up. 

The hope is the work on the regulations that should solve these issues will begin early next year. Be ready to share your input again as many of you did during the land use plan process.