Mass County planning commission conditionally approves Eagles Watch preliminary plat

The Mass County Planning Commission on June 17 conditionally approved the preliminary sedimentation plat for the Eagles Watch subdivision, requiring the developer to add missing signature lines, correct the road cross section, include an entrance-lighting note and add language granting Mass County Road Department access to detention and green-space areas if the HOA or developer fail to maintain them.

Douglas Scooch, project engineer with AGE Engineering Services, presented the plan and identified several items needing revision, including signature lines for the road department supervisor and the planning commission chairman. "My name is Douglas Scooch with AGE Engineering Services. We'll we're the project engineer on this project," he said, explaining the team will update the plan and work with agencies to resolve outstanding technical details.

Commission members said the road cross section shown on the plat must be revised to match county standards: commission staff asked that the currently shown 1.5-foot gutter be changed to a 2-foot curb-and-gutter, that the grass strip be 9 feet and that the sidewalk be 4 feet with the property line at the back of the sidewalk. The commission also asked staff to add a curb detail from the county regulations and a specific note that the Mass County Road Department will have access to detention and drainage areas for maintenance if needed.

On utilities, Scooch said the gas company had received the plans and forwarded them to its engineering staff; he said crossings were minimized and that where the main road crosses the gas easement they will ensure a minimum cover of about 5 feet and no more than 9 feet. "They have it and they're looking at it," he said, noting the firm had received PDF forms to complete as part of coordination with the utility.

A committee member asked about mailbox locations; Scooch pointed out small green dots on the plan and confirmed the design anticipates roughly one mailbox per eight houses. The presentation also noted that an area labeled "future development" is not part of the current plat and would require a separate rezoning process.

A Committee member moved to approve the preliminary plat "based upon getting all the signature lines, the entrance lighting, and the road detail cleaned up, and the note on the detention area for access," and another member seconded the motion. The commission voted unanimously in favor of the conditional approval. The Chair said Robert (the planning commission chairman) will be the last to sign the plat after the required signatures are added.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve May 20, 2025 minutes: motion made and seconded; recorded as approved (yes votes from the members present). - Motion to approve preliminary sedimentation plat for Eagles Watch (conditional on signature lines, entrance lighting, corrected road cross-section and detention-area access note): motion moved and seconded; approved unanimously. - Motion to adjourn: approved unanimously.

What happens next The applicant will update the plat to add the requested signature lines, revise the roadway cross section to county detail (2-foot curb-and-gutter, 9-foot grass strip, 4-foot sidewalk), add an entrance-lighting notation, and include the detention-area access/maintenance language. Staff offered to review the revised plan by email before the applicant circulates it for final signatures. The Chair confirmed he will sign last after the required endorsements are in place. The meeting then adjourned.