County Land Regs Will Be Adopted
Planner Bob Barber discussed the adoption of land development regulations with supervisors at their final meeting of the year on Dec. 21.
By David Howell
Editor
WATER VALLEY – Supervisors are closing in on the adoption of land development standards to implement a new county plan that was approved back in August as part of a long-range effort to guide future growth in the county. The proposed standards will be the enforcement tool to ensure that development in the county complies with the new plan, Stewardship Yalobusha. A public hearing is scheduled on January 28 at the Coffeeville courthouse for final public input before the standards are adopted.
The basic land development standards include minimum lot sizes for lots without sewer; building setbacks, or the required separation between a structure and roadway or property line; road construction standards and right-of-way standards. The development regulations under consideration will also address land divisions that create an access easement, land divisions that propose a public road, land divisions using municipal sewer or constructing a centralized sewer system, multiple lot divisions on existing public roads or any division for commercial or industrial uses.
Also expected to be adopted are special land use standards, which will include regulations for manufactured home parks, recreational vehicle parks, gravel mining, salvage yards, multi-family housing, auto repair shops and taverns.
Adopting these regulations is the final step in a process that got underway in April, 2017, after supervisors hired Orion Planning Plus Design to oversee efforts on the plan at a cost of $32,000. The lengthy process included an in-depth discovery period with input from the public during meetings held around the county. The discovery portion of the plan also included an overview of the county’s development trends and development patterns to provide a fact-based foundation for identifying the development issues likely to be faced in the future.
Stewardship Yalobusha also includes a vision for the county, which includes building and maintaining quality infrastructure, promoting excellence in the local-based economy and health care, creating and renewing quality rural neighborhoods and caring for the natural environment.
Stewardship Yalobusha was adopted in August with a 4-1 vote with District 5 Supervisor Gaylon Gray casting the sole nay vote.
The Final Link
The latest discussion about implementing the plan came during the Dec. 21 meeting as supervisors agreed that North Central Planning and Development District (NDPDD) will administer the plan as part of their existing contract with the county.
NCPDD Executive Director Steve Russell attended the meeting and explained that his office would review development plans submitted to the county.
“We will review it in accordance with the ordinance and determine if it is in compliance with the ordinance,” Russell told supervisors. He explained that his office would then make a recommendation to supervisors based on their findings.
“I would also propose that we would do this at no charge because the county currently allocates funds each year to us for technical assistance,” Russell added.
Orion Planning Plus Design partner Bob Barber also attended the Dec. 21 meeting and explained that the plan is unique to Yalobusha County.
“Anytime you introduce a plan from scratch, we will need to monitor it and adjust it,” Barber noted about potential tweaks that could be needed in the future.
