Planning Services

Purpose: The urban limit line establishes a line on the General Plan land use maps demarcating where the urban and semi-urban land uses will be developed. The Rural Center boundaries as depicted on the General Plan land use map shall be the established urban limit line.

Recognize existing defined places as centers within the Rural Regions which provide a focus of activity and provides goods and services to the surrounding areas. 

Policy 2.1.2.1
The Rural Centers within the County are identified as: Coloma, Cool, Fairplay, Garden Valley, Greenwood, Georgetown, Grey’s Corner, Grizzly Flat, Kelsey, Kyburz, Latrobe, Little Norway, Lotus, Mosquito, Mount Ralston, Mt. Aukum, Nashville, Oak Hill, Phillips, Pilot Hill, Pleasant Valley, Quintette, Rescue, Somerset, Strawberry, and Chrome Ridge.

Policy 2.1.2.2
Rural Center boundaries establish areas of higher intensity development throughout the rural areas of the County based on the availability of infrastructure, public services, existing uses, parcelization, impact on natural resources, etc. These boundaries shall be shown on the General Plan land use map. 

Policy 2.1.2.3
To meet the commercial and service needs of the residents of the Rural Centers and Rural Regions, the predominant land use type within Rural Centers shall be commercial and higher density residential development.

Policy 2.1.2.4
Rural Centers shall be evaluated for their status as historic districts. The Historic Design combining zoning district shall be applied to each Rural Center which meets the criteria to conserve the unique historic character.

Policy 2.1.2.5
Mixed use developments which combine commercial and residential uses on a single parcel are permissible and encouraged within Rural Centers provided the commercial use is the primary and dominant use of the land. Within Rural Centers, the mixed uses may occur either vertically or horizontally. The maximum residential density shall be four dwelling units per acre in Rural Centers in mixed use areas.

Policy 2.1.2.6
The boundaries of existing Rural Centers may be modified through the General Plan amendment process.