Broadwater County Planning Board Pauses Subdivision, Highlights Water Rights Concerns
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter
Broadwater County Planning Board Pauses Subdivision, Highlights Water Rights Concerns
Rachael Brug
Staff Reporter
The Broadwater County Planning Board hit the pause button on a proposed minor subdivision at its November 10 meeting, citing several errors in the developer’s application and growing concerns about water rights in the region.
Chair Ed Shindoll, joined by board members Charles Freshman and Shay Counts, as well as Community Development Director Nicole Brown, reviewed the Spiker Tract B Minor Subdivision proposal. The board identified inaccuracies in multiple key documents, including maps and water rights reports, and voted unanimously to delay the application until corrections are made.
While no members of the public attended, the meeting underscored pressing local issues. Nicole Brown briefed the board on a recent Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) meeting, explaining how a 2024 court ruling sharply limits water allocations for newer subdivisions. The ruling means that, for parcels created after 2014, water rights are now capped at ten acre-feet per original parcel, not per new lot—a change that could hamper future growth and home sales in Broadwater County.
The board also discussed upcoming amendments to subdivision regulations, with a public hearing scheduled for November 24.
As Broadwater County continues to navigate complex land and water issues, the Planning Board emphasized its commitment to transparency and due diligence—ensuring that both developers and residents are well-informed and protected.
