County officials eye zoning as a development tool

Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. As local officials look to the county’s future and its potential growth, they are beginning to consider the implementation of zoning laws as a better way to regulate development. Zoning, as explained by Allara Mills-Gutcher to the Jefferson County Commission at a recent meeting, helps organize development by separating residential, commercial and industrial uses into distinct areas in order to protect property values and the environment. Zoning is also a way, she said, to facilitate the efficient use of resources and preserve a community’s character by determining land uses and building types. Mills-Gutcher is with The Planning Collaborative (TPC)