One additional aspect of working as a County Planner for Jefferson County was being a member of weekly meetings designed for public outreach with County Staff to determine the feasibility of their proposed projects. These meetings were attended primarily by myself, the Zoning Administrator, the County Engineer, the Land Development Inspector, and the Commercial Development Inspector, with the occasional additional Staff members also in attendance.
Below are two notable PPC memos where Planning Staff played a primary role, offering many solutions for proposed Site Plans and Affordable Subdivisions all throughout the County…
Mobile Home Community
Part of the draw of moving to Jefferson County is knowing you are moving to an area with affordable housing, something all too difficult to find in the surrounding area. Development of one of the only Mobile Home Communities in the area meant people are able to move to the area without fear of going bankrupt. This application was discussing the best way to continue processing on an already expired project file, specifically the feasibility of establishing a playground on a vacant lot intended for other uses.
Accessory Storage on a Residential Lot
While a good portion of the Pre-Proposal conferences were primarily held by developers looking to move businesses into Jefferson County, these meetings can also prove to be beneficial to property owners looking to start their at-home businesses. This application was held to discuss storage for an off-site business storing items on the owner’s personal property. Due to the property being zoned Residential/ Light-Industrial/ Commercial, this project was deemed feasible by Staff, however due to restrictions on the property two solutions were given at the time of the meeting.
I believe that this aspect of the County Planner job was the most rewarding as it really allowed for both general citizens of the County and developers to better understand the rules and regulations we as Staff use every day, as well as be a helping hand through complex processes that many do not have the everyday experience of using.
Colin Uhry's Portfolio 
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