Clinton County commission approves one-lot Cardinal Hill subdivision for applicant Torrey Bossom, 6-0

The Clinton County Area Plan Commission on Feb. 4 approved the primary plat for Cardinal Hill, a one-lot minor subdivision on a 7.734-acre parcel, granting the applicant permission to create a new lot for a single nonfarm dwelling.

County planning staff presented the application (CCDASH2025-00024, docket 01-25-SD) for Torrey Bossom, describing the site as located on the south side of East 1000 North between 250 East and 400 East in Section 20 of Warren Township. Planning staff said the lot is about 2 miles west of Roseacre Farms and is zoned agricultural, as are surrounding parcels; the parcel consists of varied soils and is not in a designated legal watershed.

The commission’s approval is conditioned on the applicant’s restrictive covenants meeting the satisfaction of staff reviewer Jay Moore before the secondary plat is signed. Planning staff told the commission that the Clinton County Drainage Board granted approval on Jan. 20, 2025, the county health department determined the lot is suitable for a septic system, and the plat shows a required perimeter drainage outlet. County Highway raised no objection to a driveway to access the new lot. The proposed covenants include a reciprocal enforcement clause allowing an adjacent landowner within a quarter mile to initiate enforcement.

Commission discussion noted previous review by the Board of Zoning Appeals in 2021, where the applicant sought and received a special exception under that body’s standards. Staff and the commission discussed a possible future replat option — an administrative replat amendment rather than vacating and replatting the original lot — because of the parcel’s irregular, U-shaped configuration. Planning staff said that any future split would still need to meet applicable ordinance standards and required public notice to neighboring owners within a quarter mile.

Applicant Torrey Bossom spoke at the hearing and thanked staff and the commission for their assistance. A nearby resident, David Etherington, asked for clarification about what “replat” would mean for the property; planning staff explained that a replat would be filed as an amendment with notice to neighbors rather than vacating the original plat.

A motion to approve the primary plat with the condition that the revised restrictive covenants meet Jay Moore’s satisfaction passed on a roll-call vote, 6-0. The commission recorded affirmative votes from Grant Mueller, Dan Sheets, Walt Minnick, Andy Bailey, Jeff Chenoweth and Chad Colby.

The commission noted no other new business. The next Area Plan Commission meeting was listed as March 4, 2025.