SAN MIGUEL COUNTY: PLANNING COMMISSION  MINUTES- REGULAR MEETING  September 8, 2022 In Person and Online Meeting Lee Taylor, Chair Josselin Lifton-Zoline, Vice-Chair M.J.Schillaci, Secretary Ian Bald, Member Matthew Bayma, Member Tobin Brown, Sr. Alternate - Remote Kaye Simonson, Planning Director John Huebner, Senior Planner Troy Hangen, Senior Planner Amy Markwell, County Attorney Nancy Hrupcin, Legal Assistant  Present:  Planning Staff Present:  County Staff Present:  9:02 a.m. Chair called the meeting to order. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 9:03 a.m. Ian Bald joined the meeting  MOTION by Josselin Lifton-Zoline to approve the August 11, 2022 minutes as corrected.  SECONDED by MJ Schillaci. VOTE PASSED 5-0.  Lee Taylor Ian! Bald M.J. Schillaci Tobin Brown  Aye Nay Abstain Absent Ave Nay Abstain Absent Aye Nay Abstain Absent Ave Nay Abstain Absent  Josselin) Lifton-Zoline, Ave Nay Abstain Absent Matthew Bayma Ave Nay Abstain Absent  PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF COMMENTS Kaye Simonson, Planning Director, updated the commission.  Sunnyside is still under construction with some units already being occupied. Residents of Shandoka, Building F have been relocated. There are 30 units, and there were 172 Pinon Park just closed the application process for their lottery. Construction is moving Request to the Commission for representatives to the Master Plan update Advisory  people in the lottery. along. Group.  1Page    LAND USE CODE AMENDMENT RECOMMENDATION properties located within unincorporated San Miguel County  Review and Recommendation of Section 5-10, Special Uses, to update application requirements and review criteria for uses allowed subject to Special Use Permit review for The BOCC has requested that applicants and staff address the cumulative impact of current and proposed Special Uses during the review process, and standardize annual review requirements. This LUC Section has not been revised since the original adoption ofthe LUC. This amendment is intended to add review standards concerning the cumulative impacts of multiple special uses on a single property and oft those concentrated in a geographic area. Other revisions are to clarify submission requirements, review standards, and provide guidance on The amendment has more clarifying language and greater specificity to applications, and updates the review criteria. The proposed revisions provide consistency with the Master Plan and zone The Planning Department in their drafting chose not to do a separate Code section for golf courses, but rather cleaned it up and placed it in the back oft this section 5-10. The commission recommended that this section be amended to state that irrigation water is required to be reused. The commission discussed the amendment and refinement of some oft the language.  annual reviews.  districts.  10:10 a.m. The Chair opened public comments.  Scott Bennett, county resident expressed concerns with updating portions of the code without a general plan. He stated that cumulative impact are difficult to quantify without tangible data and not taking adequate time. He opposed requiring easements on site plans that are not recorded. Doug Tooley, county resident expressed support for a general requirement that more dispersed camping be allowed on public lands, and the need for a summer managed work camp.  10:18 a.m. The Chair closed public comments.  Planning Commission modified the LUC amendment as follows: 5-1001 new word added to first sentence, "review standards 5-1002. A.I.a. Look into question of "apparent easements";  to review Special Use permit  applications";  5-1002 A.I.c. Add phrase to Written Narrative "describe how the proposal meets all applicable  Standards and Review Criteria";  2/Page    5-1002 B. III. Check whole document for the correct usage ofthe word "complementary";  5-1002B.IV. Find new term for Necessary for public Convenience"  5-1002 B. VII. MapespsalaePemis to "Cumulative Impacts", Reword to add second sentence, "Ifthere are other Special Use Permits in the geographic area, the cumulative impacts 5-1002 B. VII. b. : Permits "on the property and in the geographic area" must be mitigated  shall be evaluated." "considered."  5-1004A.1 II. ...notice will be provide "provided"...  5-1007 E. III. Recapture ofi irrigation water for reuse is encouraged "required" to minimize 5-1007 H. III. Chemicals must be specified and submitted to the County for review and MOTION by Ian Bald to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners to adopt the amendment, to San Miguel County Land Use Code, Section 5-10, Special Uses to enumerate submission requirements, mitigation of cumulative impacts, and annual reviews; and to clarify review criteria and processes, based on the finding that the proposed amendment complies with the standards ofLand Use Code Section 5-1802, Land Use Code Amendments, and is consistent with Land Use Code Section 1-4, Purposed oft the Land Use Code, as modified in the September  usage...  approval "prior to use."  8F Planning Commission meeting.  SECONDED By MJ Schillaci. VOTE PASSED 5-0  Lee' Taylor lan Bald M.J. Schillaci Tobin) Brown  Aye Nay Abstain Absent Aye Nay Abstain Absent Aye Nay Abstain Absent Aye Nay Abstain Absent  Josselin Lifton-Zoline Aye Nay Abstain Absent Matthew Bayma Aye Nay Abstain Absent  10:29 a.m. Recessed. 10:38 a.m. Reconvened.  b.  Review and Recommendation ofLand Use Code Section 5-320 West End (WE), to include Data Centers as uses allowed subject to Special Use Permit review for property Data centers are being established across the United States and staff has been reviewing the Land Use Code to determine where/if such facilities would best fit in the unincorporated area of San Miguel County. Data Centers (sometimes called crypto mines) are facilities that centralize an organization' 's shared IT operations and equipment to store, process, and disseminate data and  located within the unincorporated County/MOTION  applications. Key concerns include power, water usage, and noise.  3Page    The West End (WE) zone district encompasses almost half of the land of San Miguel County and isl broadly characterized as rural and ranchland with little vegetation and moisture. Multiple powerlines and substations are located throughout the West End zone district. The proposed Land Use Code amendment would allow Data Centers in the West End (WE) zone district. The use would be subject toaTwo-Step Special Use Permit with a County Planning Commission recommendation and approval by the Board ofCounty Commissioners. Public notice was published and referral agencies were notified: Comments were: received by Gregory Powers, Division of Water Resources,, who stated an exempt commercial well permit would be available for a 35-acre parcel This type of permit is limited to roughly 108,000 gallons Mike Bordogna, County Manager commented that he concurs with the water and power Itwas discussed that the county would want renewables, a net zero facility, and not carbon producing. The commission further discussed that water: is a fact oflife for a data center. Kaye Simonson, Planning Director iterated that a center not using water is doable, but the power usage can be equivalent to a small city. The public benefit of economic sustenance, employment, and tax benefits was also talked about, along with how, ift there are no specific standards for such a facility in the Code, it would be considered under the existing standards of a warehouse, and hard  of water per year. provisions.  to prohibit or regulate.  11:09 a.m. The commission opened up for public comments  Doug Tooley - Concern ofindustry in the West End, oil, gas & uranium. There is potential solar  development in the West End. Doesn't believe in Bitcoin mining in the area.  11:14 Closed to public comment  The commission discussed putting a cap on the number of applicants.  MOTION by Josselin Lifton-Zoline to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners to adopt the amendment to San Miguel County Land Use Code Section 3-101 Development Permits and 5-320 West End (WE) to Allow Data Centers, with a corresponding amendment to Article 6, Definitions, based ont the finding that the proposed amendment complies with the standards of Land Use Code Section 5-1802, Land Use Code Amendments, and is consistent with Land Use Code Section 1-4, Purposes oft the Land Use Code, with a cap oft three (3) data centers. Discussion among the commission on the merits of a cap, and the cap allowing for a review  period.  MOTION finalized, with the cap of three (3) data centers.  4Page    SECONDED By MJ Schillaci. VOTE PASSED 5-0  Lee Taylor Ian! Bald M.J. Schillaci Tobin! Brown  Aye Nay Abstain Absent Aye Nay Abstain Absent Aye Nay Abstain Absent Aye Nay Abstain Absen  Josselin Lifton-Zoline Aye Nay Abstain Absent Matthew Bayma Aye Nay Abstain Absent  WORKSESSION:  Discussion of the Telluride Regional Master Plan  There needs tol be a diverse group on the advisory committee to represent the region. In October there will be subject matter experts for the focus group meeting.  December will include community engagement. on Josselin and' Toby, with Lee as an alternate.  Members of the commission are needed for the Advisory Group subcommittees. It was decided  11:47 a.m. Adjourned.  Respectfully Submitted,  Nancy  Attorney  Elpi  Approved on October 13,2022.  SANI MIGUEL COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION maNiuat  M.J. Schillaci,  Secretary  ltrdetsplhmminçPlaming Cammisia/Chinsou2p2mimuisdae  5Page