The Miami County Planning Commission voted 8-0 Oct. 7 to grant a rule exception allowing two separate access points to serve a proposed split of Tract 2 along Sunflower Road instead of the shared entrance the subdivision rules normally require.

The exception applies to a planned division that would create roughly 20-acre north and south parcels from an existing tract. Planning staff told the commission the southern parcel already has an existing house and driveway at the far south end of the property and that forcing a new shared entrance would require removing that driveway and installing new access that could put the house entrance at a less safe location. Planning staff recommended approval, saying the alternate locations offer better sight distance and that Road and Bridge supported the exception.

The action matters because Miami County subdivision regulations generally limit the number of access points on arterial roads and require shared entrances where lots front an arterial. Planning staff said strict application in this case would cause undue hardship by forcing costly driveway relocation and could place an entrance at a less safe location than the alternates under consideration. Staff proposed, and the commission adopted, a condition requiring access control along other portions of the property so each lot will be limited to the single approved access point.

Commissioners asked staff to confirm where the north lot entrance will be placed when the subdivision plat is submitted. Staff told the commission the exact location for the north-lot entrance will be reviewed and approved at the time the subdivision plat is filed, and Road and Bridge will verify sight distance and separation at that time. Commissioners discussed whether lining the new entrance up with the private 200th and 18th Street drive makes sense; staff noted that 200th and 18th is a private drive and not a platted public road, and that the plat review will resolve alignment and separation concerns.

Motion and vote: the motion to grant the rule exception (allowing the southern lot to retain its existing driveway and permitting a new northern lot entrance to be determined with the subdivision plat) passed 8-0. The commission recorded no dissent; the roll call at the start of the meeting shows Kelly Growers, Topher Bilkering, John Menifee, Josh Brown, Randy Kitchen, Drew Moore, Bill Elliott and Rusty Durkin present.

Planning staff said the commission will still review and approve the north-lot access location as part of the formal subdivision plat filing; staff also recommended placing access restrictions to prevent additional driveways or multiple access points from being created on each resulting parcel.

Commissioners and staff flagged a broader policy question: multiple members urged that the county address driveway and shared-access rules in the forthcoming comprehensive plan and comprehensive transportation plan so the rule is applied more consistently in future lot splits and subdivisions.