LONGMONT — — Longmont’s new oil and gas rules passed their first test Wednesday, along with a request for a longer moratorium on drilling permits.
The city’s planning commission recommended both items by a 4-3 vote. The rules give companies a chance to shortcut the city’s approval process by voluntarily agreeing to tougher standards than the state requires. Longmont has used a similar approach with zoning applications, allowing some items to be approved with a staff review instead of a full public hearing, but city staff said they didn’t know of anyone else applying the method to oil and gas wells.
The City Council will see both recommendations at its Feb. 21 study session; the rules then could come to a first hearing March 13 and a final vote March 27. If not extended, the moratorium expires after April 17.
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