Baker County planning agency approves multiple small-scale land-use changes and subdivision plats

The Baker County Land Planning Agency on Jan. 8, 2026, approved a set of small-scale land-use amendments, companion rezonings and subdivision plats that will allow several property owners to subdivide or reclassify parcels in the county.

Planning Director (Unidentified Speaker 3) presented the items and told the board "staff does recommend approval" for the proposals. The board moved and approved voice votes for each item during the public meeting.

What the board approved

- Ordinance 2025-37 (Small-scale land-use amendment): changes land use on a 7.51-acre parcel off Wilbanks Lane from Agriculture B to Very Low Density Residential. Companion rezoning Ordinance 2025-38 rezones the parcel from AG 7.5 to RCMH 2.5 to allow two family lots. Staff said the owner intends to create two lots now and potentially a family lot later; the director noted the parcel currently complies with standards.

- Ordinance 2025-40 (Small-scale land-use amendment) and Ordinance 2025-41 (companion rezoning): apply to a 27.66-acre parcel where a 2.99-acre portion on Bertha Mae Harris Road (at Cruz Road) will be changed to Very Low Density Residential and rezoned from AG 7.5 to RCMH 2.5 to allow the sale of the 2.99-acre portion that contains an existing mobile home. The director noted that a portion of that 2.99 acres lies in a FEMA flood zone and that future building permits must comply with FEMA rules.

- Collar Field subdivision replat (Block 4): the board approved a replat of Block 4 (13.91 acres) in the Collar Field subdivision, creating three residential lots all at least 1 acre in size; the original 1992 plat reserved these blocks for future development into lots of 1 acre or more.

- BNN Farm Estates subdivision development (preliminary and final review): the board approved a plat for a 27.98-acre portion of two parcels south of Leon Dobson Road that would be recorded as three lots (one of about 7.76 acres and two just over 10 acres); the director cautioned that flood-zone mapping will appear on the recorded plat and additional civil and survey review remains part of the planning process.

Votes and procedure

Each action was approved by motion and voice vote during the meeting; the transcript records the board moving and seconding each item and the chair calling for "All in favor, say aye." The transcript does not record a roll-call tally for individual members, so counts are not specified in the record.

Why it matters

The approved changes and plats reduce barriers for property owners to sell or develop smaller parcels while preserving the board's stated aim to limit higher-density development in certain areas. The approvals signal local support for low-density residential uses along the corridors involved but also note constraints where FEMA flood zones intersect parcels.

Next steps

Approvals that create or replat lots remain subject to follow-up administrative steps: final plats must be signed and recorded before lots can be sold or developed, and future building will require compliance with applicable floodplain regulations and civil reviews.