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Residents raise flood and septic concerns as planning commission recommends rezoning for South Keiser Lane
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Summary
The Morgan County Planning Commission on April 13 recommended approval of rezoning petition Z2601 (ag to R‑1 at 1077 South Keiser Lane) to the county commissioners despite neighbors’ concerns about repeated flooding and septic impacts; the commission emphasized rezoning is separate from permitting and site approval.
William Bailey, who asked the Morgan County Planning Commission to rezone a 3.6‑acre parcel at 1077 South Keiser Lane from agricultural to R‑1, said he plans to site a modular home outside the mapped floodplain and has had soil testing completed. Bailey said he is buying the land from his sister and intends to separate the lots so each dwelling will have its own septic system.
Why it matters: Neighbors told the commission that parts of the area flood regularly, raising questions about whether new building would increase runoff or cause septic problems for nearby homes. The commission recommended approval to the county commissioners while noting that flood‑elevation and permitting questions will be handled later in the building‑permit process.
At the hearing, Jeff Kaufman, a long‑time nearby resident, said runoff and prior development have raised ground elevations and worsened flooding. "We had six inches of rain in 10 days last April — it got pretty close to the homes," Kaufman said, and he offered to show photographs documenting high water behind local properties. Kaufman also said neighbors sometimes notice sewer odors when water levels rise and said the parcel "is not suitable to build on" in his view.
A neighboring resident told the commission that the Board of Health inspected the existing septic and had approved a plan for a new finger‑system septic adjacent to her home. "The Board of Health has come out and verified that it is in good shape," the resident said, and she added that she had not previously heard about the odor Kaufman described.
Planning staff and commissioners emphasized that the hearing addressed only the zoning category: rezoning would change the parcel's designation but would not, by itself, permit construction. Planning staff said technical issues — flood elevation certificates, permitting, and any bank requirements for flood insurance — will be addressed at the permit stage and could constrain whether a house can actually be built on the lot.
The commission voted to recommend approval of Z2601 to the county commissioners. The Chair said the board of county commissioners will consider the rezoning at its meeting on April 20 at 6:30 p.m.
The next procedural step is the county commissioners’ public hearing on Z2601; any permitting, flood‑plain mitigation or septic changes would be resolved through building permits and health department review.
