The Madison County Board of Supervisors voted to approve two rural subdivision requests Tuesday after public hearings that produced objections from nearby residents and repeated requests from supervisors for clearer drainage plans.

The board approved the one-lot Hilltop Timber Estate subdivision, a proposed split of roughly 6 acres from a 27.8-acre tract, and the three-lot Peterson Estate subdivision from a roughly 155-acre farm. Both approvals followed staff presentations that said the parcels are outside FEMA floodplains and met existing county ordinance requirements.

Why it matters: Neighbors and supervisors cautioned that converting productive farmland or timbered acreage to residential lots can increase runoff and strain roadside drainage. Joan Cook, a nearby resident, told the board she was concerned about a wet area and runoff that would make a future lot "very wet," and asked whether new roofs and driveways could worsen local drainage. Chip Boston, another neighbor, warned that "if every farmer were to sell any undesirable piece off of the corner of their ground, you would have multiple subdivisions up and down that road." These objections framed supervisors’ deliberations.

Board response and conditions: During discussion of the Peterson Estate subdivision, several supervisors said the application technically complied with current ordinances but left them uncomfortable with potential impacts to county roads and drainage. One supervisor asked the applicant and staff to return with a plan to address drainage and watershed issues; the board recorded that request in the motion for approval. For Hilltop, staff noted a fencing-exemption previously granted by the zoning commission and that a driveway approach had been approved by the county engineer.

Votes and next steps: Both zoning resolutions passed by voice vote. The Hilltop Timber Estate motion passed with at least one recorded dissent; for Peterson the board approved the subdivision while requesting the owner provide drainage mitigation information at a later date. Planning staff and the applicant were directed to follow up with the board on the drainage and watershed concerns.

Background: Planning staff said the Hilltop tract was heavily timbered with topographic changes and that proposed house sites would require some tree clearing but that a driveway approach is in place. For Peterson Estate, staff noted a high CSR score (crop productivity), past parcel splits and a Van Meter city waiver related to distance from municipal utilities.

The board asked staff to track follow-up materials and report back with any proposed drainage plans or stipulations the applicant can provide.