Major subdivision lot sizes lowered to 2,3&5 acres

Polk County has new regulations for subdividing land that includes lower lot sizes for major subdivisions.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday, Nov. 21 and unanimously approved the new subdivision ordinance, which replaces the former ordinance. The county’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) committee is working to combine all the county’s ordinances into one document and decided to pull out the subdivision ordinance to approve separately.

Almost 50 residents attended Monday’s public hearing, with the majority of residents speaking in favor of the new ordinance’s approval. Following the public hearing, commissioner Tom Pack reviewed questions he had about the ordinance, and his changes were incorporated into the document prior to approval.

Residents against the ordinance called it confusing and too lengthy at 94 pages long. Residents in favor said the new ordinance protects the county’s resources as well as giving a developer more options in how to plan the subdivision.

Rickie McFalls began the comments by saying the document is confusing.

“I hold in my hand a confusing document less than 100 pages,” said McFalls. “Now we need a good firm of attorneys to look it over. But I have an idea to save money; we need to put up signs on every major road coming into Polk County saying ‘no vacancies’ and ‘minimum jobs.’”

But Katherine Smith, Lisa Krolack, Ruth Thomas, Ken Brady, Mark Byington, Henry Bright, Crystal Walter, Burt Baer, David Smith, David Weiss and two residents who sent emails all said they fully support the new ordinance.

Brady said he believes the ordinance addresses all concerns, including avoiding zoning. Brady said it protects residents outside proposed subdivisions, allows residents to be heard at planning board meetings before the subdivision is approved, requires environmental studies and protects developers with costs by allowing clustering.

“I believe this ordinance will protect the quality of life we all enjoy in Polk County,” said Brady.

Byington, who serves as chair of the UDO committee, said the ordinance has been well conceived with many people spending a lot of time on it. He said the UDO committee all supports the ordinance, “as a proper way to move forward with development in this county.”

Byington said the ordinance is fair and actually increases the current density as well as allowing flexibility in design.

David Smith urged commissioners to approve the ordinance. He said it doesn’t exclude anyone and keeps Polk County’s land appealing to get people here.

Katherine Smith said she served on the county’s Vision 20/20 committee and is pleased to see the planning of that vision carried out.

“I’m glad that this can go forward and think it will help clarify things,” Katherine Smith said.

Bill Ennis said there are some great things in the new ordinance, such as doing away with the seven-acre minimums, but there no financial incentives for developers.

“You still fail to reimburse the developer for land he is not developing,” said Ennis. “The point system is subjective and doesn’t capture what you need to be looking at.”

Ennis also said the 94-page document is very complex and difficult to navigate.

“It’s my business to navigate these documents and I had trouble,” Ennis said.

Bill Smith said the defect in the ordinance is increasing the dwelling density by decreasing the minimum lot sizes. Smith said decreasing minimum lot sizes creates a tax increase for all residents in terms of services. He said increasing density increases traffic, crime, fire and safety needs, groundwater demand and school needs.

“The taxpayers will have to pay for this type of development,” Smith said. “Denser developments are not better.”

Keith Holbert handed commissioners questions about the ordinance and said he objects to it. Holbert said the point system seems to be a way of costing a developer more money, making it harder to justify developing a subdivision. The five-acre minimum should be sufficient in itself, Holbert said.

“Requirements to hire hydrologists, engineers and economists seem to be overkill,” Holbert said.

The next UDO meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Meeting Place Senior Center to continue work on other county ordinances.