The Stark County Planning and Zoning Commission on July 31 approved final plat FSP0125 for the Michael subdivision, a roughly 204.49-acre property, contingent on county review of an internal road maintenance plan, a weed-control plan approved by the county weed officer, and completion of a pending section-line vacation.

The approval came after the applicant’s representative, Andrew Schrank, principal with Highlands Engineering, described revisions made since the preliminary plat, including combining two lots in the southwest corner, adding a water easement along the front of Block 1 “for a potential future waterline,” and adding road names to the plat. Schrank said the plat now shows “1 large Lot 2 now at the Southwest Corner” where a former rest stop was located and that the owners have recently closed on “a half acre of property at the Northwest Corner.”

County planner Steve Josephson said staff reviewed materials submitted July 8, with revised items on July 18 and July 23, and recommended approval with conditions. Josephson said, “recordation of the subdivision shall occur after the county has received and reviewed the road maintenance plan for the internal subdivision road,” and that “prior to final subdivision plat approval, the applicant shall submit a weed control plan that has been reviewed and approved by the Stark County weed officer.” Josephson also noted applicants are responsible for any additional engineering-review costs.

Todd Miller, road operations specialist for Stark County, told commissioners the road serving the subdivision is not built to county standards and said, “Far as I know that road would be maintained by them unless it's built to county spec.” Andrew Schrank confirmed the existing surface is a scoria surfacing rather than the county’s standard gravel and said the alignment was narrowed in places to avoid wetlands. Schrank added the applicants “do plan to maintain it, but if that's something the county would take over, it'd be greatly appreciated.”

Schrank explained the north section-line vacation that must be approved separately by the County Commission: the western portion of the section line crosses the Green River and a nearby building owned by a different property owner currently sits within that section line. He said vacating that section line would resolve both the encroachment and access issues and that the applicants have provided “a 40 foot water and access easement across the north side of Lots 1 And 2” to provide private access to the adjacent parcel. Josephson reminded the commission that the section-line vacation, rezoning for the northern portion of the subdivision, and final plat would all be considered by the County Commission the following Tuesday.

The commission motioned to approve FSP0125 “subject to the conditions that we previously discussed,” with the motion and second recorded on the public record; a roll-call vote recorded Commissioner Claris, Commissioner Goldsmith, Dr. Baer, Commissioner Nicholas, Commissioner Larson, Commissioner Riddle and the Chair as voting aye. The motion carried.

The approval is conditional and dependent on completion of the separate County Commission action to vacate the section line and on staff verification that the road maintenance plan and weed control plan meet county requirements.

Commissioners and staff said the applicants will remain responsible for engineering-review fees and any required recorded agreements regarding road maintenance and the access easement.