The Polk County Commissioners adopted three new ordinances to preserve the natural beauty of their mountains. Chair Cindy Walker described the development that precipitated the regulations as a bloody scar.
A Mountain and Ridgeline Protection ordinance for zoned areas and one for unzoned areas, and one Erosion and Sedimentation Control ordinance were passed to promote the public health, safety, and welfare by protecting water quality. The ordinances require development plans, teamwork, and the implementation of best practices. They would also “restore local control over already existing state rules.”
