Wednesday, NOVEMBER 19, 2025 |

Photo – Carbon County Land Use Plan – Courtesy Carbon County

The Board of County Commissioners appointed Riverside resident Patricia Davis to the Planning and Zoning Commission, citing her firsthand experience with the impacts of unchecked growth.

The Carbon County Planning and Zoning Commission is responsible for shaping how land in the county is used and developed.

After longtime Planning Commission member Jay Grabow retired last month, county officials invited residents to submit letters of interest to serve on the board. Two volunteers applied for the position, Patricia Davis of Riverside and Katherine Munson of Encampment, prompting the Board of Commissioners to interview both candidates during Tuesday’s meeting.

Patrica Davis was up first. Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett asked Davis why she wanted to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Davis responded that she moved to Carbon County three years ago from Gallatin County, Montana and does not want Carbon County to experience the kind of overdevelopment she witnessed in her previous home.

In recent years, open spaces around Bozeman, Montana have been replaced by subdivisions and small ranches. Additionally, thousands of new wells have overtaxed local aquifers. Davis attributed those outcomes to a lack of strong developmental oversight.

Next, Commissioner John Johnson asked Davis what she believed needed to be addressed to prevent Carbon County from becoming like Gallatin. The applicant suggested ensuring neighborhoods do not outgrow local utilities and emergency services.

Davis said growth should be concentrated around existing municipalities and subdivisions.

Commissioner Sue Jones explained to Davis that Carbon County is large, with diverse needs across its communities, and asked how she planned to take that into account while serving on the Planning Commission. Davis replied that she will focus on revitalizing underused areas of the county.

Commissioner John Espy elaborated on Commissioner Jones’s comments, saying that residents of the Little Snake River Valley have different needs than those in the Platte Valley or northern Carbon County. Commissioner Espy added that finding solutions for each community while protecting private property rights can be challenging. Davis said she takes private property rights very seriously.

Finally, Commission Chairman Travis Moore asked Davis for her opinion on energy production. The applicant said she supports wind turbines, provided the surrounding land remains available for agriculture. Davis added that all forms of energy production carry both benefits and drawbacks.

In conclusion, Davis said that if selected to serve on the Planning Commission, she would guide development and growth toward appropriate locations within the county.

Next, the Board of Commissioners interviewed Katherine Munson. Vice Chairwoman Bartlett asked Munson why she wished to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant said she wants to direct growth while retaining the fundamental character of Carbon County.

Commissioner Johnson asked Munson if she had any concerns about the way the county is currently being developed. The applicant responded that she would like to play a greater role in how water rights are managed.

Commissioner Jones reiterated that Carbon County is a large and diverse area and asked Munson how she will address that when serving on the Planning Commission. Munson said she will rely on the information available at the time to draw the best conclusions.

Commissioner Espy asked how Munson will balance the needs of the county’s 10 municipalities against private property rights. Munson acknowledged that those rights can make controlling development difficult at times. As a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, she will work to address those challenges.

Commissioner Johnson said the Planning and Zoning Commission may have to oppose private property rights if, for example, a rancher asks to subdivide land in a way that does not align with the Carbon County Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The Commissioner asked Munson how she would feel about setting policies that could conflict with private property rights. Munson replied that the Planning Commission must consider all the available information before making a determination.

Following the interviews, Commissioner Espy moved to appoint Patricia Davis to the Carbon County Planning and Zoning Commission. Espy said Davis’s experience in Gallatin County, Montana gives her unique insight into the impacts of unchecked growth and development.