Clay County planners approve Arnold Park subdivision, rezoning and plats with conditions

The Clay County Planning and Zoning Commission on March 4 approved rezoning and both the preliminary and final plats for the Arnold Park subdivision, a proposed five-lot division of roughly 36 acres along Highway 33.

Planning staff told the commission the property, currently zoned agricultural, would be replatted into five lots zoned R-5 (Residential Ranch). Staff recommended approval and said the application meets rezoning criteria and the relevant sections of the county land development code.

Staff said the application was submitted before the county adopted the 2040 Compass comprehensive plan and therefore was processed under the previous comprehensive plan (2008). The commission heard from the applicant, Thomas Coutts, and a supporting neighbor, Melanie Dillon, and moved to approve the rezoning, the preliminary plat and the final plat with conditions.

Why it matters: the approvals permit establishment of five residential parcels with agricultural preservation restrictions and confirm access points onto Highway 33 and Faith Street; the actions also set conditions the county requires before recording the new lots.

Staff presentation and scope Planning staff described the site as an unplatted, roughly 36-acre parcel with access from Highway 33 and Faith Street and said surrounding parcels include R-5, R-1A, R-1 and agricultural zoning. "Staff believes that this rezoning criteria has been met," a staff member said, and noted no objections had been received from outside agencies and that staff mailed 31 notices and posted a site sign.

Site plan and access Under the approved plan, all five lots will carry agricultural land-preservation language. Lots 1 and 2 will be accessed from the Faith Street cul-de-sac; Lot 3 will have its own standalone access; and Lots 4 and 5 will share an access point onto Highway 33.

Applicant and public comment Thomas Coutts, identified by county staff as the property owner, told the commission he and his wife own the parcel and said, "we met all requirements that the county requires to subdivide this," and that he expected the development to fit with the surrounding neighborhood. Melanie Dillon, a nearby resident, said, "I am in support of the application. Mr. Coutts has been a good neighbor ... I don't see any adverse effects to this being completed."

Conditions, code reference and plan processing Staff recommended approval with three conditions: updated recording copies of the plat, a shared driveway agreement where applicable, and a pond inspection. For the final plat staff said the proposal complies with section 151-3.6(d) of the Clay County Land Development Code (02/2011). Staff also said the case is being processed under the county's pre-2040 comprehensive plan because the application was received before adoption of the 2040 Compass plan.

Votes at a glance - Rezoning of Arnold Park to R-5 (rezoning motion with conditions): Approved. Vote recorded: Mike Brinkley, Jerry Nolte, Tom Degenhardt, Randall Morris and Mark Beggs — yes. (Outcome: approved.) - Preliminary plat approval for Arnold Park (with conditions): Approved. Vote recorded: Mike Brinkley, Jerry Nolte, Tom Degenhardt, Randall Morris and Mark Beggs — yes. (Outcome: approved.) - Final plat approval for Arnold Park (with three conditions): Approved. Vote recorded: Mike Brinkley, Jerry Nolte, Tom Degenhardt, Randall Morris and Mark Beggs — yes. (Outcome: approved.)

Next steps Staff told the commission the applicant must satisfy the three conditions (recording copies, shared driveway agreement, pond inspection) before recording the plat. The staff member said the case would not proceed to the County Commission unless an appeal is filed.

Ending No formal appeals or objections were recorded at the meeting; staff and the applicant indicated they will complete the technical conditions required for final recording.