Planning commission recommends wide-ranging land-use and subdivision ordinance changes to county commissioners

The Stephens County Planning Commission on Jan. 7 recommended approval of proposed amendments to the county Land Use Ordinance (Chapter 59) and the Subdivision Ordinance (Chapter 66) and will forward those recommendations to the Stephens County Board of Commissioners for public hearing and final action.

Planning staff described the Land Use Ordinance changes as principally raising minimum tract-width requirements at the right-of-way across multiple zoning districts and adding language to allow panhandle or flag lots where properties cannot meet new width requirements. Staff cited specific changes including additions to Article 2 (definitions for "flag lot" and "panhandle lot"), increases in right-of-way tract width requirements in Article 4 (Agricultural General Residential) from 30 feet to 200 feet, Article 5 (Agricultural Intensive) from 30 feet to 200 feet, Article 7 (Agricultural Business) from 25 feet to 200 feet, and adjustments in residential and commercial districts (various increases to 50 feet were proposed for some categories). Under Article 16 (general provisions) staff added section 59-1609 detailing how panhandle or flag lots would be implemented in accordance with Stephens County land-use policy.

For the Subdivision Ordinance staff described several procedural and definition changes: a clarified definition of subdivision, removal of some prior exemptions, a new definition for "minor subdivision" that triggers planning commission and board review once five or more lots are created from a parent parcel within 12 months, and revised submission timing so subdivision plats must be submitted to the planning commission at least 30 days before a regular meeting (changed from 15 days) to meet legal-notice timelines. Staff also said exemptions remain for division of land into parcels of 3 acres or more with no new street, and for cemetery plots.

During the joint public hearing a property owner asked practical questions about a roughly 9–10-acre parcel with approximately 900 feet of road frontage and whether the new rules would allow four or five houses, how flag or panhandle lots would be treated, and how many homes could be served by an easement. Planning staff replied that allowed homes per lot depend on acreage and zoning (for example staff said a 2-acre lot could have up to two homes and anything beyond two homes would require a variance), that some panhandle lots are illustrated in the subdivision ordinance (including on cul-de-sacs), and that an easement can serve up to three homes under the new language.

Staff said existing, already-approved plats and subdivisions would remain subject to the standards in force at the time of approval (i.e., grandfathered). Staff also told the commission that the Board of Commissioners' first public hearing on the proposed changes is scheduled for "next Tuesday at 6 p.m." and that a second reading is scheduled for the 28th of the month; staff also referenced Jan. 28 as a cutoff for grandfathering in discussion.

After discussion the Planning Commission moved, seconded and voted to recommend approval of the Land Use Ordinance amendments by voice vote and then separately voted to recommend approval of the Subdivision Ordinance amendments by voice vote. The transcript does not record roll-call tallies or the names of motion sponsors. Those recommendations will be transmitted to the Stephens County Board of Commissioners for public hearings and final action.