DeKalb County plat committee approves five minor subdivisions on June 3

The DeKalb County Plan Commission plat committee on Tuesday approved five minor subdivision plats for single-family homes across the county after planning staff recommended approval and no members of the public spoke in opposition.

Planning staff told the committee that each petition met the county’s Unified Development Ordinance standards and was consistent with the comprehensive plan. “The petitioners complied with the rules and regulations of the plan commission” and “the subdivision will be used for residential uses, which is compatible to the existing and adjacent land uses,” planning staff said during findings of fact.

The five petitions approved were:

- Petition 25-16 (Schmucker’s Acres): Two-lot subdivision totaling about 39.3 acres at 4952 County Road 64, Spencerville (A2 zoning). Proposed lot sizes are about 26.128 and 12.647 net acres; staff recommended right-of-way dedication of 30 feet along County Road 64.

- Petition 25-17 (Replat of Williams Estates Lot 1): Replat at 1640 County Road 60, Garrett (A2) to reduce Lot 1 and create two additional buildable lots (Lot 1: ~5.182 net acres; Lots 2 & 3: ~3.305 net acres). No additional right-of-way dedication was required.

- Petition 25-18 (Marlene’s Acres, staff report also referenced Soaring Eagle Acres): One-lot subdivision of about 5.686 acres on County Road 11 near County Road 2, Hudson (A2). Staff noted and the committee corrected a plat name inconsistency in the record before approval.

- Petition 25-19 (Soaring Eagle Acres — Forrest): One-lot subdivision of roughly 2.21 acres on County Road 14 near County Road 27, Waterloo (A2). Staff described this as the first buildable split from the parent parcel; proposed lot meets the 2-acre minimum.

- Petition 25-20 (Boomer’s Addition): Two-lot subdivision totaling about 4.26 acres on County Road 59 near County Road 52, Saint Joe (A2). Staff described proposed lot frontages (about 299 feet) and a 40-foot right-of-way dedication for the county collector road; a surveyor for the petitioner said the lot layout preserves access to a pond on the parent tract.

For each petition, staff recited jurisdictional findings of record including application dates, publication of legal notice, and letters or reports from the DeKalb County Board of Health, DeKalb County Highway Department, DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District and DeKalb County Drainage Board. Staff also noted that private septic systems will be used where municipal services are not required, and that plats should not be recorded until applicants file written evidence of compliance with any conditions from applicable agencies.

There was no public comment on any of the five petitions. Committee members moved and seconded approval motions for each petition; roll call votes recorded (committee members recorded on the roll call: Alicia Rogers, Sandy Harrison, Jerry Yoder, Suzanne Davis, Jason Carnahan, Meredith Wright). For the petitions where votes were read on the record, the committee recorded unanimous affirmative votes among members voting.

Votes at a glance

- Petition 25-16 (Schmucker’s Acres): Motion to approve primary and secondary plat — Moved: Jerry Yoder; Second: Sandy Harrison; Recorded votes: Sandy Harrison — Yes; Jerry Yoder — Yes; Suzanne Davis — Yes; Alicia Rogers — Yes. Outcome: Approved.

- Petition 25-17 (Replat of Williams Estates): Motion to approve primary and secondary plat — Moved: Suzanne Davis; Second: Sandy Harrison; Recorded votes: Sandy Harrison — Yes; [Gary/Jerry] Yoder — Yes; Suzanne Davis — Yes; Alicia Rogers — Yes. Outcome: Approved.

- Petition 25-18 (Marlene’s Acres): Motion to approve primary and secondary plat with standard conditions — Moved: Sandy Harrison; Second: Jerry Yoder; Recorded votes: Sandy Harrison — Yes; Jerry Yoder — Yes; Suzanne Davis — Yes; Alicia Rogers — Yes. Outcome: Approved.

- Petition 25-19 (Soaring Eagle Acres — Forrest): Motion to approve primary and secondary plat — Moved: Jerry Yoder; Second: Sandy Harrison; Recorded votes: Sandy Harrison — Yes; Jerry Yoder — Yes; Suzanne Davis — Yes; Alicia Rogers — Yes. Outcome: Approved.

- Petition 25-20 (Boomer’s Addition): Motion to approve primary and secondary plat — Moved: Suzanne Davis; Second: Sandy Harrison; Recorded votes: Sandy Harrison — Yes; [Carrie/Gary] Yoder — Yes; Suzanne Davis — Yes; Alicia Rogers — Yes. Outcome: Approved.

Context and next steps

Planning staff added standard conditions to be recorded on the plats and additional conditions that must be met before recording, including compliance with any applicable federal, state or local agency requirements and any required covenants (agricultural, drainage, airport zone). The zoning administrator was noted as responsible for determining when conditions have been met.

The committee closed the meeting with no further new business and scheduled its next meeting for July 1, 2025.