Developer revises Cottonwood Creek plans; supervisors agree to reconsider subdivision on next agenda

The Madison County Board of Supervisors agreed to reconsider a previously tabled resolution for the Cottonwood Creek subdivision after the property owner presented revised plans addressing board concerns.

Ben Kelly, the property owner, told the board his team hired Heartland Cooperative to evaluate prairie remnants and produced an engineer's report showing roughly 6.24 acres of gullied land on the 30'acre parcel. Kelly said the specialist concluded the site is not remnant prairie along the creek and provided affidavits from the tenant and prior landowner. He also presented drawings that reduce the number of separate driveway outlets and discussed culvert locations and septic alternatives.

Kelly said engineers prepared options with three, four or five driveway outlets; he said the three-driveway option would require two culverts and would add roughly $20,000 for one culvert in some configurations, while septic upgrade methods varied from about $5,000 to $16,000 depending on technique. Kelly offered to email the drawings and covenants to staff and the board for review.

After discussion about conservation concerns and technical issues, a supervisor moved to reconsider the tabled resolution and place Cottonwood Creek on next Tuesday's agenda as a resolution for possible approval; another supervisor seconded the motion, and the board approved it by voice vote. Staff directed the owner to provide revised drawings and to coordinate with zoning staff and the county attorney so, if the board approves the resolution at the next meeting, site work can proceed as scheduled.