County planning and zoning numbers reflect slow housing market

A sluggish housing market is least partly responsible for the continuing downward trend in McLeod County land-use permits.

The county’s Planning and Zoning department last week reported it issued about 200 land use permits in 2007, compared to about 250 in 2006. The past five years have seen consecutive drops in land-use permits issued, falling from a high of almost 500 in 2003.

Only 37 permits for new homes were issued countywide last year, with much of the activity in the Winsted and Hutchinson areas.

Consequently, revenue generated from permits is also sliding. Planning and Zoning Director Larry Gasow said the department hasn’t increased its permit fees for the past three years, and revenue in 2007 was $51,507, down considerably from a 2005 total of $115,401.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)