Wayne County commissioners approve variance for 14-lot division on Lake Lanell Road

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 4 approved a variance allowing a property owner to redivide three existing tracts into 14 lots along Lake Lanell Road.

The applicant, identified in the meeting as Jeff, requested the waiver from a county ordinance that generally limits new splits to five parcels (with a separate allowance tied to tracts of record before February 2007). Jeff said the proposed layout spreads lots more evenly across the farm and avoids concentrating multiple driveways on the dirt road. He told commissioners the smallest new parcel would be about 3 acres and the largest about 10 acres.

County leaders said they would record a stipulation in the commission minutes and work to ensure language is placed on the deed to notify future buyers that the roads serving the lots “may never be paved.” The building-inspection office also indicated it could add a caveat to the final plat to clarify the county will not assume paving obligations under the terms of this approval.

Why it matters: The change alters local parcelization rules in a rural corridor and raises questions about long-term road maintenance and service expectations for new buyers. Commissioners said they were approving the split only after confirming procedural safeguards so the county will not be expected to pave or assume maintenance beyond established policies.

During discussion, commissioners and staff focused on traffic and maintenance implications for the unpaved road. County staff reminded the board of an existing practice that, after a subdivision reaches 50% lot sales, the county may take over road maintenance only when construction meets the county’s subdivision standards (including the required base). Commissioners said that history of unmet expectations for paving has led to complaints from long-time residents and that clarifying language was necessary to avoid future disputes.

Commissioners also discussed next steps for the applicant: the survey and plat must be completed and approved by the building inspector, who can add the agreed caveat to the recorded plat. The applicant said he would ask his surveyor to include deed language that notifies future owners that the county is not promising to pave the road.

The board voted unanimously to approve the variance. The motion recorded in the minutes approved the applicant’s request to divide the three tracts into 14 lots, with the conditions that deed language and/or a plat caveat inform purchasers the roads may not be paved and that the final plat be presented to the building inspector for review. The meeting record shows “yes” votes from Commissioners Hopkins, Thomas, Franks, Gordon and McCreery (unanimous vote).