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Ellis County staff recommend denial of lot split at 1478 Jeffrey Drive due to minimum lot-size rules; septic and well setbacks discussed
Summary
Justin Craig, Ellis County Environmental Services Director, told commissioners a proposed lot split at 1478 Jeffrey Drive would create two parcels smaller than the county’s 2-acre suburban minimum and recommended denial under current zoning rules.
The Ellis County Commission heard a presentation on March 4 about a proposed lot split for 1478 Jeffrey Drive. Justin Craig, the county’s environmental services director, told commissioners the existing parcel is approximately 3.7 acres and the proposed split would create one parcel of about 1.75 acres and another of about 1.95 acres.
Craig said Ellis County zoning regulations require suburban residential lots to be a minimum of 2 acres unless the development is served by centralized water and sanitary sewer, which the property lacks. "The Ellis County zoning regulations, require suburban residential lot to be a minimum of 2 acres, but the minimum lot size can be reduced to 14,000 square feet if the development is supplied with centralized water and sanitary sewer, which does not exist," Craig said. He also noted there are existing septic systems for both structures and that one structure is connected to a rural water supply while the other uses a private well.
Justin Craig said, based on the lot sizes and the absence of centralized water and sewer, he would deny the lot split under current regulations and recommended the governing body hear any appeals. Adam Pray, who said he is the applicant’s representative and present to explain the proposal, said there are two water wells on the property — one inside the house and another elsewhere on the parcel — and offered to show their locations on a map. "I am I have a person who's wanting to buy the, just the shop. I have somebody else who wants to buy just the house. So I'm proposing to purchase it and split it because neither of those 2 buyers wanted to do it, and then I would just sell the 2 structures, separately," Pray said, describing his contingency contract.
Commissioners asked about the locations of septic laterals in relation to wells. Craig and Pray discussed that the county’s environmental code recommends a 100-foot separation between septic laterals and water wells, and that the existing wells and septic systems had been in place for decades. No formal decision or final vote on the lot split was recorded at the meeting; Craig said appeals could be brought to the governing body to decide.
The record did not show a formal approval, denial vote, or any conditions being placed on the application during the March 4 meeting.
