Planning commission approves final plat for Rochelle Stevenson property

The Planning & Zoning Commission approved a final plat Nov. 17 that will create three lots from an unplatted tract identified in town materials as the Rochelle Stevenson (Paris edition) plat.

Chair opened the item by explaining the property is unplatted, which requires a final plat rather than a minor plat or an amending plat under the town’s recently adopted subdivision ordinance. A resident representing the owners said they bought 2.6 acres and intend to build a home; he also noted a neighboring owner, identified in the hearing as Neil Perez, plans to build as well. The plat references surveys attributed to Jay Edmondson and Jay Harrods and lists Denton CAD property IDs 19784, 19785, 19786 and 20191. The Chair read acreage on the materials as roughly 7.88 acres.

During public comment nearby resident John Holt asked whether the four property ID numbers shown on the plat would become three lots; staff confirmed the new plan will result in three properties. Holt raised runoff and drainage concerns for his downhill yard. The Chair responded: “we are not requiring people to solve problems that already exist. We're requiring them not to create new problems,” and said any increased runoff caused by new construction would be prohibited and must be mitigated at the building-permit stage.

Commissioners also flagged the long shared driveway serving the new lots and suggested the homeowners record a driveway maintenance agreement to allocate costs and responsibilities. The Chair advised the owners they may also wish to align the legal easement with the actual roadway to avoid future disputes.

After discussion the Chair moved approval “as presented to us tonight,” a member seconded, and the Chair announced the motion was approved unanimously. The transcript records no roll-call tally; commissioners did not discuss final engineering during the meeting. The Chair noted that the third lot will be required to demonstrate compliant drainage mitigation before any building permit is granted.