Planning commission approves Foy Thomas minor subdivision under new state-driven code

The Clarkston Town Planning Commission approved the Foy Thomas Minor Subdivision on Feb. 13, finalizing a land split under the town’s new minor-subdivision rules.

The approval came after commissioners reviewed title paperwork and confirmed with the applicant’s attorney that an identified title issue would not impede the minor-subdivision process. “This ordinance was written in such a way to make it easier for residents of the town or owners of parcels in the town to split a lot when they want to,” Chairman Halbert said during the discussion.

Commissioners discussed how the town’s minor-subdivision code differs from a full subdivision review. Under the minor-subdivision process, projects cannot require new infrastructure to be constructed on the edges of subdivided lots; that constraint was cited as the main reason some parcels are ineligible for the minor pathway. “One of the main things that you have to meet is that there cannot be any requirement for new infrastructure to be put in on any edge of the subdivided lots,” Halbert said.

Commissioners also described other built-in limits in the minor-subdivision rules intended to reduce demand on town infrastructure and taxpayer expense, including caps on the total number of resulting parcels and limits on successive lot splits. The precise interval for successive splits was discussed by commissioners but not specified during the meeting.

Commissioners noted the change followed recent state-level action requiring municipalities to rewrite subdivision ordinances; the commission’s attorney and grant-funded consultant work were credited for producing the new town code. Commissioners said the planning commission now serves as the land use authority for minor subdivisions under the revised code, and they conducted a roll-call approval during the meeting. The commission also discussed how signatures should be recorded on approval forms and said they would seek clarification from the town attorney on whether multiple signature blocks or a third-party signatory are required on future applications.

Chairman Halbert said he would follow up with the applicant and with the attorney for clarity on signature procedures. “I’ll get some clarification from him and make sure that, you know, if you guys are the line of authority, if it’s okay,” Halbert said. The applicant was offered a copy of the approval to take to the county; staff said they would provide that copy.

The applicant did not present additional objections or changes at the meeting. Commissioners indicated the Willis Acres Phase 2 proposal will be handled separately through the full subdivision process when it returns to the commission.