A moratorium on issuing building permits on rural land tracts using the “5-acre exemption” rule was extended for seven more months Monday in a 2-1 vote by Douglas County commissioners.

Commissioners Bob Johnson and Charles Jones said they are voting to extend the moratorium because they were optimistic that a compromise on revised rural development and subdivision regulations will be reached with the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission and the Lawrence City Commission.

Commissioner Jere McElhaney said he, too, is optimistic, but felt that the moratorium, which was put into effect a year ago, had been in place long enough. McElhaney said he was keeping his promise not to extend the moratorium and because he thinks a majority of his constituents want the moratorium lifted.

“We can complete this work with the Planning Commission and get the job done without the moratorium,” McElhaney said.

Johnson and Jones, however, said they think the moratorium is a necessary trade-off to prevent a rush of building projects on 5-acre properties before revised regulations are in place.

The 5-acre exemption rule generally allows people to build a home or place a mobile home on at least 5 acres of property in rural parts of the county without going through a rezoning or platting process.

The moratorium went into effect June 1, 2005, and on Nov. 28, 2005, it was extended another six months. All three commissioners voted for the moratorium those two times, although McElhaney said he would not vote for another extension. The new extension will run through Dec. 31.

County commissioners spent much of the past year working to revise the rural regulations before approving them and sending them on to the Planning Commission. The Lawrence City Commission also will have to approve them. The Planning Commission recently appointed a special committee to work out differences and find compromises among the three governing entities.

If no compromise is reached, the county will explore its options, including the possibility of breaking from the Planning Commission and Lawrence on rural development and going its own way, Johnson said. But Johnson and Jones said they thought there was time for a compromise.