Before voting unanimously to approve a proposed two-lot subdivision within Pinecrest last week, the Jefferson County Commission heard from one Pinecrest resident unhappy about the proposal. Under the proposed subdivision a 5.6 acre lot would be split into two lots of 3.6 acres and 2 acres.
Duke Cromrich, a long-time resident of Pinecrest, said he appreciates that subdivision between Clancy and Montana City because it is not overcrowded. He urged the commission to reject the proposal, saying, “When you start issuing variances in rural areas, you open up the floodgates.” He expressed fear that approving the proposal would lead down the road to water and sewer issues and increased costs for road maintenance due to resulting traffic increases.
County Planner LaDana Hintz told the commissioners Pinecrest was created in 1974 and the county did little at that time to regulate subdivisions. The main road into the subdivision, Pinecrest Road, which was adopted as a county road in 2002, does not meet current county road standards, she said. Nevertheless, said Hintz, she and the county planning board reviewed the application and recommended approval.
Commissioner Bob Mullen said he reviewed the proposal and was not concerned by what he found. He was joined by Commissioners Leonard Wortman and Cory Kirsch in the unanimous approval.
In other business conducted April 25, the commission:
• heard from both sides of a dispute over a locked gate on Rocky Road. (See separate article in this issue.)
• approved a list of polling places for the May 25 special election.
• and discussed problems with the rodeo grounds bleachers and cover. The risers need to be repaired or replaced, said the commissioners, and it needs to be done before this summer’s rodeo. The cost is estimated to be $45,000 or more. The commissioners and county attorney expressed dissatisfaction that the problem was not identified when the structure was initially engineered and said they would pursue efforts to make the project engineers and contractors responsible.
