The 4,688-acre Lone Star Ranch in Humboldt County has been permanently conserved through a California Rangeland Trust easement, preserving both its working legacy and vital wildlife habitat.

The Cape Cod Commission presented the final draft of its 2025 Regional Policy Plan to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates on Nov. 5 and asked the assembly to consider it as an ordinance. The plan updates priorities from the 2018 RPP, adds climate adaptation measures, expands metrics and monitoring, and recommends actions on open space, aquf

Multiple residents and conservation representatives told the Council they support preserving open space and urged deed restrictions and a required master plan prior to any major development on the holdings covered by the proposed rezoning.

Heather Wing asked the board to approve millage language for a November ballot measure to fund farmland and open‑space preservation, saying local matching funds are needed to capture state and federal grant opportunities; commissioners expressed concerns about 'millage fatigue' and distribution of benefits.

County planners presented Draft 3 of a consolidated land‑use ordinance that would replace roughly ten existing codes; commissioners praised the cleaner structure but pressed staff on open‑space removal, short‑plat changes, CUP timelines for large energy projects and where appeals and enforcement authority lie. Draft 4 will be prepared for public hearings.

The Duluth City Council unanimously approved a resolution requesting a land-use study for the roughly 230-acre former Lester Park Golf Course, directing a public, stakeholder-driven process that will examine housing, infrastructure and park protections.

An applicant told the Fremont County Planning Commission about a proposed 152‑lot planned unit development on roughly 772 acres, emphasizing small sustainable homes, about 200 acres of proposed permanent open space and a timeline for commissioner feedback ahead of a March meeting.

Trustees adopted Resolution 47-2025 to enter an intergovernmental agreement with Larimer County coordinating growth management boundaries, review procedures and protection of open space; staff noted modest clarifying edits from county planners and broad public outreach.

Following a Harwich request to initiate a DRI review of a 40B project (Pine Oak Village), commissioners discussed whether existing state laws limit the Cape Cod Commission’s authority over 40B projects and debated pursuing state legislative changes or studies to give the commission additional review powers.

Legislators propose amendments to limit billboards near public parks and historic sites

Experts suggest implementing a density bonus ordinance to enhance open space protection.

After extensive public comment and a lengthy review, the commission adopted a new zoning code on second reading but directed staff to remove the proposed agricultural district pending further study and public outreach. The rewrite is the first comprehensive zoning update since 1981.

County planning briefed the committee on housing element implementation, upcoming ordinance updates, 30 active builder's‑remedy applications and a proposed revision to counts for accessory dwelling units; supervisors raised concerns about reconciling RHNA production with protecting agricultural and open‑space lands.

After extended debate, council directed staff to pursue a single Article 27 vote on major land-use changes (late summer 2026), set City Hall/annex caps at 1.25, recommended a 0.75 cap for most public-institutional sites while allowing Beach Cities Health District to seek up to 1.25 tied to development standards, and advanced changes to industrial and commercial FARs for targeted corridors.

Councilmembers discuss development plans while prioritizing parking and open space concerns.

Trustees discussed competing recommendations from the Parks & Recreation Board and the Planning & Zoning Commission over how to zone community parks, neighborhood parks and open space. Debate focused on protecting riverfront habitat (Indian Gardens), whether to pre‑approve active uses (disc golf) and establishing park‑specific impervious‑surface limits.

After a public hearing, Oakley council approved a package of changes to the River Haven development agreement — including a 10-year term, crawl-space plumbing rules, optional limited privacy fencing, an affordable duplex with deed restriction requiring primary residency, and a 10-foot setback reduction for Lot 108 — and authorized staff to finalize the agreement.