A resident of Log Hill Mesa has petitioned Ouray County to eliminate visual impact regulations from a 3.7 mile corridor on the west side of County Road 1 on Log Hill Mesa. The argument: That much higher density development has already occurred, and will continue to occur, on the east side of the road, affecting owners situated in low density tracts on the west side whose view corridors and property values will remain impacted.

The petitioner, Randall Fisher, owns 40.4 acres across the road from the Fairway Pines development. He is contemplating having his land rezoned to a higher density of one homesite per six acres. That way he could subdivide his land and sell off lots should the regulations be lifted.

Last week, the Ouray County Planning Commission recommended that Fisher's petition be denied. The application could still go to the Ouray County Board of Commissioners for final action.

In his application to the county for the law change, Fisher stated that there are "inconsistencies" with the other eight designated view corridors in the county.

"While the eight other designated roads generally have identical zoning on both their stipulated 1.5-mile (from centerline) corridors, only County Road 1 has different zoning along its route," he said, which results in "one-acre home sites on the road's east side (Log Hill Village and Fairway Pines); 18- to 35-acre home sites west of the road; and six-acre (or less) home sites for the south 2.1 miles of this corridor."

Homeowner's Association officers from the Log Hill area, members of the real estate development industry and representatives of the Ridgway Ouray Community Council offered comment to the planning commission.

ROCC opposed the proposal, claiming that large areas would be affected and that an injurious precedent would be set.

"It's unfortunate that the regulations on CR 1 didn't include all of CR 1," said Frank Starr of Log Hill. "Usually when regulations are changed to benefit an individual, it is detrimental to the area. I feel the county laws that exist need to be left alone."