Adams County OKs replat to add four lots in Country Club Ranchettes subdivision

The Adams County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 18 approved a subdivision replat for Country Club Ranchettes filing 1 that increases the original subdivision from 56 lots to 60, adding four lots.

Staff presented the request, PLT 2023-55, describing it as a replat to amend the original major subdivision. "Both the current and proposed lots would be meeting the RE lot standards, including lot width and lot size," Cody Spade, planner with the Community and Economic Development Department, told the board. Spade said staff received no public comments and that the Planning Commission voted unanimously 6-0 to recommend approval on Jan. 23, 2025.

The replat was approved with four findings of fact, two conditions precedent and three notes. Per staff recommendations, the applicant must submit a certificate to the Adams County Community and Economic Development Department and must pay $38,139.24 to satisfy cash-in-lieu public land dedication requirements before the plat can be recorded. Staff also required compliance with building, zoning, fire, engineering and health codes; a separate grading permit before importing inert fill (with demonstration that the fill meets the definition of inert fill); and underground utilities in accordance with county development standards.

Jay Scolnick, identified in the record as the property owner and applicant, said the replat primarily cleans up irregular lot lines and that the cash-in-lieu payment appeared to duplicate a prior payment for the subdivision. "This is not new land. So it's sort of double taxation," Scolnick said, asking staff to review the cash-in-lieu calculation. He also described the development's economic impact: "I've sold all 52 ... it's about $56,000,000 of annual taxes."

Commissioners asked staff to clarify the county's cash-in-lieu practice. Jen Rudder, planning and development manager, explained the county requires dedication or cash in lieu for public land (parks and school sites) and that the formula is in the county's development standards and regulations. Rudder said the department plans to review the calculation at a future meeting.

A motion to approve the case as presented passed by a 5-0 vote. The county record will show the payment and the required certificate must be completed prior to recordation of the amended plat.

The board and staff noted they will revisit how cash-in-lieu is calculated and applied at an upcoming work session; the county did not change the payment requirement for this docketed replat.