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Judge Hutchins: county cannot spend on private roads; subdivision standards being rewritten
Summary
Judge-Executive Tim Hutchins said state statute bars county spending on private roads but owners can upgrade roads to county standards for adoption; he outlined a year-long rewrite of subdivision regulations that will set new standards for road width, utilities and lot splits.
Nelson County Judge-Executive Tim Hutchins told listeners the county’s hands are constrained when it comes to private roads but that officials are taking steps to reduce future problems through revised subdivision regulations.
Hutchins said county law prevents using county funds to repair private roads. "It's a flat out illegal to go in and put any money on a on a private road," he said, while noting an established process allows owners to upgrade a private road to county standards and petition for adoption and maintenance.
The judge-executive described a year-long effort with county engineers and planning staff to rewrite subdivision regulations. The rewrite will set clearer standards for street width, drainage, water and internet access and will allow limited private-road lot splits (for example five-acre tracts under particular conditions) while requiring higher standards for new development.
Hutchins urged owners of heavily used private roads to meet with county staff to explore options and said the goal is to reduce repeated maintenance calls for future administrations.
The changes will proceed through the Planning Commission and public hearings before adoption, Hutchins said.
