This bill could result in approval of developments in areas where firefighting costs are high and where development could result in the loss of life of residents and firefighters as well as significant damage to property. The bill could also result in the inability of local government to deny a subdivision that has unmitigable impacts to public health, safety and welfare.
FYI. Most local governments are aware of wildland-fire interface maps that are grossly inaccurate. In Missoula County, we look to more scientific and locally derived mapping that involves local fire districts, residents, landowners and professionals in the field.
If I had to guess, it seems likely that the bill is coming from Plum Creek. They were very concerned that the delineation of the WUI in the Seeley Plan would preclude them from developing in such areas.
I'm not aware of any subdivision denials in MC that were solely the result of WUI concerns.
SB 298 Watch: This bill adds the prohibition of the governing body using the fact that a parcel is designated as being within a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) solely as a basis to deny a subdivision (in addition to impacts to schools). Missoula has never denied a subdivision solely based on the fact the property is in the WUI. However, that doesn't mean there could be an extreme situation where denial would be the only way to protect public health and safety. In that situation hopefully an argument could be made using multiple criteria to condition or deny. Denise
Pat O'Herren writes:
ReplyDeleteThis bill could result in approval of developments in areas where firefighting costs are high and where development could result in the loss of life of residents and firefighters as well as significant damage to property. The bill could also result in the inability of local government to deny a subdivision that has unmitigable impacts to public health, safety and welfare.
FYI. Most local governments are aware of wildland-fire interface maps that are grossly inaccurate. In Missoula County, we look to more scientific and locally derived mapping that involves local fire districts, residents, landowners and professionals in the field.
If I had to guess, it seems likely that the bill is coming from Plum Creek. They were very concerned that the delineation of the WUI in the Seeley Plan would preclude them from developing in such areas.
I'm not aware of any subdivision denials in MC that were solely the result of WUI concerns.
Denise Alexander wrote:
ReplyDeleteSB 298 Watch: This bill adds the prohibition of the governing body using the fact that a parcel is designated as being within a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) solely as a basis to deny a subdivision (in addition to impacts to schools). Missoula has never denied a subdivision solely based on the fact the property is in the WUI. However, that doesn't mean there could be an extreme situation where denial would be the only way to protect public health and safety. In that situation hopefully an argument could be made using multiple criteria to condition or deny.
Denise