The Washington County Plan Commission voted to define the plat (platting) committee membership as the Washington County highway superintendent, the county building commissioner and the county surveyor, a procedural change intended to give clear, permanent positions authority to grant primary approval of minor subdivisions. The motion carried unanimously.

Commission staff member Emily said a licensed surveyor reviewed the new subdivision control ordinance and recommended changing the administrative-plat language that currently refers to "deeded access," because deeded access could be interpreted to require fee-simple ownership of driveways. "Deeded access does not mean that you own your driveway in, as he explained to me," Emily said, noting that the commission probably intended to require fee-simple access and that the ordinance language may need one-page clarifying edits or an exhibit showing driveway configurations.

Several commissioners urged balancing efficiency with public transparency. One commissioner read the ordinance language noting statutory authority under Indiana Code section 36-7-4-701(e) and advocated for public reporting and minutes for any plat committee action so the public could review decisions. Commissioners debated whether the plat committee should be three positions (as voted) or a five-person body that would include citizen members to provide public input; supporters of the smaller committee argued that technical review by county officials keeps the process nimble and that minutes/reporting requirements already preserve public oversight.

The commission agreed to bring proposals and draft language to the next meeting. Attorney Lisa Fleming and staff said they would work with Emily to prepare a draft amendment and consider adding exhibits or more detailed administrative text to clarify allowable driveway configurations, the meaning of deeded access, and standards to avoid creating 'non-performing uses' through subdivisions.

Next procedural steps: staff and counsel will draft ordinance language and exhibits for review at the next Plan Commission meeting; the commission may adopt an amendment or forward it to the county commissioners for formal adoption depending on legal review and required procedures.