The Cache County Planning Commission on Jan. 8 voted to forward a package of subdivision-code changes to the county council that would cap some rural subdivision sizes and tighten water-supply requirements for larger developments.

Commissioners agreed the most significant change would be a 7‑lot threshold: subdivisions proposing more than seven lots generally would need to be within a municipality’s annexation plan and either connect to municipal water or provide an approved public water system. The proposal also initially included a restriction tied to the wildland‑urban interface; commissioners amended language during debate to align thresholds and asked staff to refine wording before council review.

Staff planner Connor framed the amendment as an interim measure while the county completes a water‑resources study. “If you’re over 7, it must be within a local municipality’s annexation plan,” a commissioner said during discussion, summarizing the draft language discussed by the commission. Commissioners said the rule is intended to limit concentrated residential growth where municipal services are not available.

The debate centered on two recurring concerns: how to verify adequate water supply and whether mandating drilled wells or municipal hookups would unfairly burden rural landowners. Residents and a local real‑estate professional warned that requiring drilled wells on every lot or forcing long water-line extensions could be prohibitively expensive for small local developers and farmers. “It is super limiting to some of these big parcels,” said a public commenter who identified himself as Nate Player, warning the rule could devalue property that had been farmed for generations.

Commissioners and staff discussed alternatives that would allow an approved public water system to satisfy the standard if a municipality will not extend service. Several commissioners noted that Bear River Health and the Utah Safe Drinking Water Act would regulate public water systems and that source‑protection requirements would apply.

Commissioner discussion also addressed the wildland‑urban interface clause, originally drafted with a stricter 3‑lot cap in some locations. Several members said the number would have an outsized impact on large rural parcels; the commission agreed to change the operational threshold to 7 in the draft the commission will recommend and directed staff to return with clearer mapping and wording.

The commission voted to recommend the exhibit with suggested modifications, including adding the public‑water‑system option and revising the wildland‑interface language. The measure moves next to the Cache County Council for review and possible adoption.

What’s next: The county council will receive the planning commission’s recommendation and the revised exhibit. Staff said the code is intended to be revisited after completion of the county water study, which commissioners cited as important to tailoring permanent standards.