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Clarkston Planning Commission approves Smith–Clark boundary adjustment, agrees to review formal process
Summary
At its March 2025 meeting the Clarkston Planning Commission approved a boundary line adjustment between Delmar Smith and Taylor Clark, contingent on payment of the recording fee, and discussed drafting formal standards for future boundary line adjustments to avoid creating nonconforming lots.
The Clarkston Planning Commission approved a boundary line adjustment between Delmar Smith and Taylor Clark at its March 2025 meeting and directed staff to research codifying a clearer review process for future adjustments.
Commissioners approved the specific boundary change by roll-call vote; approval was recorded as unanimous and conditioned on payment of the town fee for recording the change (a $100 fee was identified in the discussion). The adjustment was presented to the commission as a small corner carve-out needed because of a septic system leach field on one parcel.
Commission members spent the bulk of the item discussing how the commission should review boundary line adjustments going forward. Commissioners and staff noted that parcel-mapping layers in the town GIS and public mapping services can be several feet off and that a county recorder filing notifies the town only after the change is recorded. Because of that, commissioners said the town should adopt a clearer submittal form or checklist so applicants show existing buildings and proposed new lot lines and indicate potential impacts on setbacks. Several commissioners said they would be comfortable approving routine adjustments without a survey but that the commission should require a recorded survey when lot lines would come very close to existing buildings or when mapping is ambiguous.
Staff said the health department’s septic requirement was the practical reason for the adjustment in this case. Commissioners discussed enforcement options, including denying building or zoning permits on parcels that become nonconforming after an unreviewed adjustment, and noted that the recorder’s report provides a reliable legal description but that GIS displays are not always precise. The commission directed staff to start an email thread to research how other jurisdictions handle boundary line adjustments and to propose draft language that could be added to the town code or subdivision ordinance requiring a drawn site plan or survey in specified circumstances.
The commission recorded its approval after taking a roll-call vote. Approval was noted as contingent on payment of the $100 fee to complete the filing.
