Opinion ID: 2542695
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Absolute performance standard public access

Text: Cowan argues the Board erred in approving the Development because the FCDC requires that historic public access to public lands not be eliminated, and the plat failed to show all currently-used, existing roads across the property. Therefore, he continues, Bawden failed to comply with this absolute standard. The FCDC provides: No development shall eliminate existing public access through private lands to trailheads on public lands. FCDC Ch. VIII(MM)(1). In turn, it uses development as a generic term covering any and all activities for which a permit is required by the FCDC. FCDC Ch. XIV (V). Once again, the Board's decision that the road at issue did not cross the development site is supported by substantial and competent evidence, and therefore it did not err. As discussed previously, Eagle's Nest is a development on one parcel of land. While Bawden owns the neighboring parcel to the east, these two parcels remain separate, as the Board concluded based on the evidence before it. While there is some indication that the road crosses the parcel of land Bawden retains for his personal use, there is simply no evidence that it crosses the Eagle's Nest development and will be eliminated by the development. As such, this development has not violated the FCDC's prohibition on eliminating existing public access.