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Court workshop begins rewrite of subdivision rules, considers 2‑acre minimum and stronger groundwater tests
Summary
Coryell County convened an afternoon workshop with consultant Brooke Thompson (MRB) to begin drafting changes to subdivision regulations; proposals include a 2‑acre minimum lot size in many rural areas, tighter bonding to cover utilities, and expanded groundwater testing requirements to defend enhanced rules.
Coryell County Commissioners held a workshop after their regular meeting to begin rewriting the county's subdivision regulations so they support a forthcoming land‑use plan.
Brooke Thompson of MRB walked commissioners through a list of potential changes drawn from other Texas counties and the county's hazard‑mitigation and wildfire plans. Thompson said MRB had reviewed the county's floodplain ordinance and that a certified floodplain manager would "go line by line" as part of the rewrite. "We do have a certified floodplain manager who reviewed it, and, basically, he was gonna go line by line," Thompson said.
Commissioners discussed several substantive proposals: creating a formal application appendix for single‑track exemptions; expanding bonding to include utility costs; requiring plats or phasing/master plans for large developments; and adding clearer stormwater and drainage standards. The judge asked whether the panel could start from a specific baseline and suggested, "is it agreeable to say 2 acres is what we would call a minimum?" The court did not adopt a final rule but generally signaled support for drafting language around the 2‑acre baseline for rural lots.
Members pressed staff and counsel on what evidence would be needed to defend any enhanced requirements in court. County staff said the county expects to have baseline groundwater data within 12–24 months and that the office would consult the county attorney about legal defensibility of new lot‑size or groundwater testing rules.
MRB agreed to supply model language and sample regulations from Guadalupe, Blanco and Jefferson counties for the court and staff to review. Commissioners asked for the draft changes and supporting materials before the court's next meeting so they may consider formal action in a future session.
