Working group considers reducing family subdivision minimums, keeping five‑year hold on new lots

Staff member outlined a proposal to reduce the typical family‑subdivision split from the current 5/3 or 5/5 pattern to smaller parent/child tracks (for example, 3 acres and 2 acres in applicable districts) while retaining a five‑year ownership requirement on newly created parcels. The change is presented as a way to let immediate family members obtain buildable lots while limiting use of the family‑subdivision process to avoid circumvention of the subdivision ordinance. "You have to own the parcel for 5 years," Staff member (S2) told the group, noting that the existing affidavit recorded at the time of division enforces that restriction.

Members debated whether the parent tract should also be subject to an additional five‑year hold when a child lot is split off and whether appeals of hardship exceptions should go to the board of supervisors rather than the planning director. Chair (S3) and several committee members agreed the proposal should be narrow (immediate family only — children, spouse, parents, siblings) and that allowing an appeals path to the board would preserve public oversight. Staff (S2) said he will draft recommended ordinance language reflecting the group's consensus points and circulate it to members for review before bringing the package to the board.