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Finney County approves Whitetail Crossing final plat after developer presents well test and water plan
Summary
The Finney County commission approved the final plat for Whitetail Crossing, a 10-lot subdivision, after a developer representative presented Servitech water-test results and clarified that the drilled Dakota-aquifer well will not be used to serve adjacent lots. Commissioners noted buyers will be responsible for securing water.
A developer representative presenting on behalf of property owner Thomas Stevenson told the Finney County Board of County Commissioners the well drilled on the northernmost lot of the proposed Whitetail Crossing plat taps the Dakota aquifer and that Servitech laboratory results show the water "is safe for human consumption." The representative said the owner does not intend to supply water to the other nine proposed lots and that future purchasers will be responsible for securing their own water supplies or negotiating shared arrangements.
Staff described the proposal as a 10-lot final plat generally located in the 10,000 block of North Jenny Barker Road, with individual lots ranging from 8 to 9 acres for single-family residential use. The planning commission had previously tabled the item because the applicant had not demonstrated an adequate and reliable water supply. Applicants later provided an affidavit, a Servitech water-quality report for the test well, and a letter from Nash Water Services LLC addressing available volume, which staff said satisfied the information requested during plat review.
Commissioners pressed staff for details about neighboring properties; staff said some nearby homes share a single well serving eight residences and that one property maintains an 8,000-gallon water tank. Commissioners also noted that Kansas Division of Water Resources spacing rules that require a half-mile separation apply to commercial or irrigation operators who apply for a certificate of beneficial use; domestic wells are subject to nominal spacing (on the order of 50 to 100 feet), staff said.
A commissioner who spoke in favor of the plat said the development would add housing supply in a market with a pronounced need for housing and that the lot sizes should be appealing to buyers. The board voted to approve the final plat and adopt the planning commission’s recommendation.
The board also confirmed design details staff highlighted, including shared driveway accesses to reduce curb cuts along Jenny Barker Road. Staff stated the final plat meets Finney County zoning and subdivision requirements following review and the planning commission’s recommendation. The motion to approve carried in a recorded voice vote; at least one commissioner registered a dissenting vote, but no additional conditions were imposed.
The next procedural step is recordation of the final plat per county practice; staff will advise the applicant about recording requirements and any building-permit or floodplain compliance needed before development proceeds.
