Sheridan County Conservation District of Sheridan Wyoming

LAND USE PLANNING

SUBDIVISON REVIEWS

The Sheridan County Subdivision Resolution requires that SCCD review and provide recommendations for proposed subdivisions as authorized in Wyoming State Statute 18-5-306(xii)(e)(b). This process entails a review of the plat, soils information, and an on-site inspection. The role of the SCCD/NRCS is to encourage developers and other County authorities to use good conservation practices in subdivision planning by offering recommendations on resource issues. Because the SCCD has no regulatory authority, all recommendations are applied on a voluntary basis. SCCD works cooperatively with the Sheridan County Planner, Engineer, and Planning and Zoning Commission to address concerns with natural resource issues.

SCCD/NRCS provides ALL soils information free of charge. This information comes from the USDA Soil Survey for Sheridan County Area, Wyoming, 1986. Ideally, this request comes PRIOR to the development of the preliminary plat so that the soils information can be incorporated. Developers are encouraged to meet with the Board of Supervisors to develop a conservation plan.

Once the preliminary plat (or final plat on minor subdivisions) is received, SCCD conducts an on-site inspection and a review of the corresponding soils information as it relates to the plat. The recommendations are submitted to the developer upon payment of the review fee. The fee for a subdivision review is $4.00 per acre with a $40.00 minimum fee. All subdivision recommendations are maintained in the SCCD/NRCS office and are available to the public upon request.

WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS

Watershed Improvement Districts can be formed as subdistricts of conservation districts under W.S. 41-8-101 through 41-8-126. The purpose of a Watershed Improvement District is to

provide for the prevention and control of erosion, floodwater and sediment damages, for agricultural uses, and the storage, conservation development, utilization and disposal of water, and thereby to preserve and protect land and water resources, and protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state. . . (W.S. 41-8-102).

Where this act is silent or so specifies, the Special Districts Elections Act (W.S. 22-29-101 through 22-29-601) is used. For Watershed Improvement Districts, the Sheridan County Conservation District Board of Supervisors acts on the petition for formation as the County Commissioners would for other Special Districts and conducts the election for formation and annual director elections as would the County Clerk and Elections Office.

The basic process for forming a Watershed Improvement District includes: 1) filing a petition for formation with the Sheridan County Conservation District; 2) receiving comments on the boundary description from the WY Department of Revenue and the County Assessor 3) holding a hearing on the petition for formation; 4) holding an election for the formation and initial directors (and subsequent annual director elections). The process seems very simple, but because of notice and time requirements, it becomes quite lengthy, so it is best to start as early as possible.

The Sheridan County Conservation District does NOT charge a fee for the process of forming a Watershed Improvement District; nor is there an election fee charged by the Elections Office. The costs associated with the formation of the Watershed Improvement District are the responsibility of and paid by the Sheridan County Conservation District, as the sponsor. However, we will, as authorized under W.S. 22-29-111 (b), request reimbursement for the formation costs, if the formation is successful. These costs include: publication of legal notices, proclamations, etc. and the postage costs for mailing ballots as required by the Special District Elections Act. We are not required to provide return postage for ballots. The time spent providing information, developing notices, ballots, and canvassing the ballots will not be charged as reimbursable expenses.

Information packets and timelines are available at the SCCD/NRCS office.