Planners give thumbs up to permit streamlining

Whitman County’s planning commission gave unofficial approval last week to changes in county zoning code that would reduce the public process required to build in unincorporated areas.

The changes give Planner Alan Thomson sole discretion to permit construction of some projects that currently require conditional use permits from the citizen board of adjustment.

Thomson Monday said the changes are designed to speed the permit process.

The code changes would eliminate the board from ruling on construction of cell phone towers and accessory farm buildings and to determine if property owners can c...