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Washington County board approves amendment to subdivision rules allowing one family lot
Summary
The Washington County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing and unanimously approved a text amendment to Article II of the county Subdivision Ordinance to allow one additional lot for an immediate family member when specified requirements are met; the chair requested further edits be reviewed by the Mid‑East Commission.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing on March 16 and approved a text amendment to the county Subdivision Ordinance that permits a property owner to subdivide a tract to create one additional lot for an immediate family member, provided the proposal meets all requirements listed in the draft language.
County Manager and County Attorney Curtis S. Potter told the board the change was recommended by the Washington County Planning Board after its Feb. 19 public hearing and that the draft language specifically limits the exemption to one additional lot for a spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling or legally adopted child of the property owner. "This is a legislative hearing regarding the standalone subdivision ordinance," Potter said in explaining the process and the draft amendment.
Chair John C. Spruill said he did not believe the amendment as presented went far enough and said he had emailed suggested changes to the county manager and other commissioners; he asked Potter to forward those suggested edits to the Mid‑East Commission for review. Commissioner Phelps moved to approve the amendment as presented; Commissioner Keyes seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
The amendment was considered alongside routine business: the board also approved a consent agenda that included tax refunds and an audit response letter. The board did not take additional changes to the ordinance at this meeting beyond directing staff to share Chair Spruill's suggested revisions with the regional review body. The county manager said he would bring a resolution and a final version of the strategic plan to the April board meeting.
Votes at a glance • Consent agenda (tax refunds & releases; audit response letter): approved (motion carried unanimously). • Subdivision Ordinance Article II text amendment: approved (motion carried unanimously).
Next steps The chair asked the county manager to transmit his suggested edits to the Mid‑East Commission for review; the manager said a final plan and a resolution would return to the board in April for formal adoption of the strategic plan and any ordinance refinements.
