The much-debated updates to San Juan County’s Critical Areas Ordinance will take effect on March 1, 2014, and all permit applications submitted on or after that date will have to meet the new standards.

Permits submitted prior to March 1 will be reviewed in line with regulations in effect when the application was submitted.

The county council is expected to put final touches on the regulations in February, bringing the updates into compliance with the latest Growth Hearings Board rulings on legal challenges to the proposed updates.

The final public hearing on the CAO is scheduled for the Feb. 4 council meeting.

For more information, visit http://sanjuanco.com/cdp/CAO_ImplemenationDocs.aspx.