Residents voice safety concerns as Lawrence County approves Hidden Pines preliminary plat

The Lawrence County Commission voted to grant preliminary approval for the Hidden Pines subdivision, a proposed development of roughly a dozen lots off Wildburger Road, while acknowledging persistent concerns from neighbors about traffic safety, drainage and water and sewer service.

The commission’s approval, made after a public-comment period and a detailed staff report, includes conditions: structures identified on lots 9–11 must be removed by Sept. 1, and the developer must resolve a title/legal‑description issue flagged in the staff review before the board will accept a final plat. Reid Feitner, the developer, and his engineer provided water and sewer documents and a signed utility access and service agreement; staff said the agreement “locks in” willingness-to-serve but noted the final plat will require fully executed utility infrastructure and as-built documentation.

Why it matters: Neighbors and road-district members told the commission that Wildburger Road is narrow (staff recorded the road width at roughly 21.5 feet), has limited sightlines and already carries more traffic than it was designed for. Tim Brown, a nearby property owner, said the existing road network and turn-offs tied to Apple Springs have increased traffic and raised safety concerns; Clint Hall and other residents warned of fast speeds, pedestrian exposure and regular damage to the roadbed. Several speakers asked whether the county’s road network has capacity for the additional traffic and whether the developer’s plans rely on private or state approvals for access.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that preliminary plat approval does not guarantee a final plat. Planning staff noted that if the developer cannot secure water or sewer service or fix the deed/legal-description issues, the preliminary approval will not allow a final plat to record. Board members also asked for clearer drainage plans and said that any required utility or road improvements must be completed before final plat acceptance.

What the commission did: After hearing from residents and discussing the technical issues, the board moved to approve the preliminary plat with the stated conditions and documentation requirements. The motion carried.

Next steps: The developer must address the title/legal-description discrepancy and complete utility and drainage requirements; the county will review as‑built utility documents and require compliance before accepting a final plat. The public hearing record and the Sept. 1 deadline for removal of specified structures are now part of the planning file.