Commissioners disapprove Chandler Farm replat over missing utility-easement detail

Henderson County commissioners voted unanimously Friday to disapprove a replat application for Lots 19 and 21 in the Chandler Farm subdivision because the plat did not meet county subdivision ordinance requirements for depicting utility easements.

County planning staff and the county attorney told the court the subdivision regulations require depiction of existing and proposed utility easements on replat submissions; the survey language provided on the submitted plat placed responsibility on the property owner rather than showing easements on the face of the plat. The county’s land-development official said the absence of a title commitment and explicit easement depictions meant the plat did not satisfy county rules.

County staff warned that undisclosed easements can render land undevelopable; the county’s subdivision official cited examples where large, old utility easements have affected development. Commissioners discussed whether the note that refers to “15 foot utility easement per Henderson County” could mislead buyers because the easement wording does not show ownership of the easement. The court said it has worked with surveyors on older “blanket easements” but insisted the current submission did not comply with the ordinance.

Motion and outcome: Commissioner McCam moved and Commissioner Tooley seconded a motion to disapprove the Chandler Farm replat due to insufficient information related to utility easements. The motion passed unanimously. County staff will prepare a disapproval letter outlining deficiencies for the applicant.

Next steps: The court directed staff to draft the disapproval letter listing the ordinance deficiencies; applicants may resubmit with the required easement depictions or request a variance per county procedures.