Tensions run high at Planning Commission

by David Boyle
News Director
Tensions ran high during a nearly five-hour meeting of the San Juan County Planning Commission.
Despite a tense high point about an hour into the meeting, the commission moved forward to review and discuss community comments on Chapters 1-6 of the 2025 Land Use Ordinance. They also made motions related to the Loves Travel Stop proposal in Spanish Valley.
Ten residents spoke out in opposition to the proposed Loves Truck Stop in Spanish Valley and more than a dozen residents spoke out about the 2025 county land use ordinance. Public comments lasted over an hour to begin the meeting.
Among concerns voiced by Spanish Valley residents related to the truck stop include concerns about possible pollution of fuels into Pack Creek, noise and light pollution, impacts of fumes on neighboring residences and increased traffic in the area impacting the health and wellbeing of neighbors to the proposed stop.
Ken Van Dyke, representing Loves Travel Stop, said he has worked on the site plan since 2018 and adds Loves has tried to accommodate the community where they can, including moving where trucks are allowed on the property, using dark sky lights and following inspections and regulations.
Van Dyke also noted the jobs for residents and sales tax that the Travel Stop would generate and responded to a comment that suggested the stop move down the road by saying that it isn’t that easy to just move down the road.
Over a dozen residents also addressed the commission regarding the Land Use Ordinance. Many expressed concern about how the ordinance could impact their freedom
County resident Shanon Brooks addressed the commission. Brooks created a Public Awareness Committee which surveyed residents of the county about the proposed ordinance.
Speaking to the commission, Brooks said the county is moving too fast and outlined concerns in the ordinance including contradictory or confusing definitions ranging from pets, to ag industries, private roads and fencing.
Other residents spoke out about a preference to keep the rural nature of unincorporated San Juan County and concern about over-regulation of rural properties.
During public comment, planning commission chair Trent Schafer offered a time extension to Van Dyke, representing Love’s Travel Stop, to finish his presentation.
Following that, Brooks rose and called the move unfair noting others did not get extra time and adding that type of behavior makes the public distrust the planning commission.
Later in the meeting, County Commissioner Sylvia Stubbs offered clarification that she has been told that the chair can extend time to hear from people if they so choose.
Sitting in the back of the room, Stubbs said she was not there in an official capacity but as a resident trying to deepen her understanding of the planning commission’s work, adding, “So when it comes before me I know the process that you went through to make my decisions”
Following over an hour of public comments from over 25 individuals, the planning commission began discussion and review of updates to the County General Plan’s “Land Use” Chapter.
County Planning Administrator Kristen Bushnell provided background on the discussion, noting the General Plan was updated in 2018, but the county land use ordinance has not been updated since despite attempts by the county.
The latest attempt in January was tabled by the county commission for six months. Bushnell said while they haven’t moved ahead on the land use ordinance or general plan in those six months, they have hosted five workshops.
“We have kept communication lines open to the public. We have been forwarding emails, phone messages. I have been meeting individually with several people upon request.”
From the audience, Brooks called out “But you haven’t been in your office at all”
After a brief back and forth, officials threatened to remove Brooks from the meeting.
Schafer made a motion to adjourn the meeting before leaving and not returning. With tensions rising in the room, a recess was called and a sheriff’s deputy was requested.
Over the next few minutes, commissioners discussed options for the meeting. Deputy County Attorney Jens Nielson mentioned the amount of time going into work noting he drove from Spanish Fork for the meeting, and mentioning he is originally from Blanding.
Brooks told Nielson to go back to Spanish Fork and called him a traitor to Blanding.
Nielson later responded, pointing to Brooks and saying he was out of line, and saying Brooks had told more mistruths and misleading statements than he told truths.
That statement was met with protest by members of the crowd asking for one statement of mis-truth, with Nielson responding saying “what he said about private roads” the discussion was interrupted with calls for a break.
After some moments of silence, Brooks spoke to the audience venting frustrations. “We need to get to the point where something different is happening because we just keep getting not listened to. I’ve been here 18 years and this is how it’s been for 18 years.”
Tensions later came down in the room and the meeting moved forward without the removal of anyone from the public.
Bushnell outlined a plan with work sessions through the end of 2025 to move towards adoption of the land use ordinance.
As part of the schedule, the county commission and planning commission plan to go through the land use ordinance with a “fine tooth comb”.
In July, the two bodies have gone through chapters one through six of the ordinance. Plans are to go through the rest of the sections in August, September and October.
The schedule outlines November as a time to review any new 2025 legislative issues, with a final review of complete documents in December. The planning commission is set to recommend the ordinance at their December 11 meeting and the county commission may adopt the ordinance at their December 16 meeting.
Among the review for the remaining four hours of the meeting, the planning commission discussed proper zoned areas for raceways and event centers. Equipment rental and storage was considered for permitting but plans were made to define equipment.
Discussions around homesteading and home-based businesses included discussion on how to define when a cottage industry moves to a larger commercial operation and how to clearly define those differences and the required zoning for larger operations.
A legal requirement for sexually oriented businesses was discussed with the planning commission agreeing to limit those only to industrial zones, with limited industrial land in the county. Discussions included looking at zoning maps as well.
Members of the commission also made some progress on the Love’s Travel Stop proposal.
The planning commission was remanded by an administrative law judge, requiring findings on if Love’s is a proper applicant, if the use is permitted, and if it’s harmonious.
Members of the commission did vote to affirm that the Love’s was a proper applicant.
However the other two questions remained unanswered with the commission voting to postpone that decision to their next meeting.