Planning staff presents Cottages on Carter Phase 2 preliminary plat; commissioners raise traffic and wetlands questions

County planning staff presented the preliminary plat for Cottages on Carter Phase 2, a Walterville Properties development that would add 67 single‑family lots as the second phase of a larger subdivision.

Staff said the full parent parcel totals about 183 acres and that Phase 1 already contains 69 homes. Phase 2 would add 67 lots, preserve a roughly 1.9‑acre parcel containing a historic cemetery, and reserve approximately 21.5 acres (including wetlands and detention) to be maintained by the homeowners association. The development is in an R‑12 zoning district; because the subdivision will use county water but on‑site septic, Environmental Health requires a minimum half‑acre usable upland lot size and 100‑foot minimum width at the septic location.

Commissioners asked about road access and safety at the Bill Carter Road / Louis Frazier Road intersection, discussed whether a right‑turn lane could be required in the future, and noted poor nighttime visibility at the intersection. Staff pointed to proposed second entrance off Louis Frazier and a loop connection with the existing Stone Court stub outs. Commissioners also asked whether wetlands would drain to Peacock Canal; staff responded that the wetlands likely connect to downstream channels and that detention and buffer areas are shown on the plat.

The planning commission recommended approval of the preliminary plat with standard conditions. A commissioner moved to follow the LCPC recommendation during the meeting. The board discussion focused on traffic mitigation, preserving the historic cemetery parcel, and ensuring lots meet septic‑system upland requirements before final plat approval.

No final plat or construction approvals were granted at the meeting; the project must still satisfy environmental health, stormwater and permitting requirements before infrastructure construction and final plats.