The City of Jackson Planning and Zoning Commission narrowly approved an amendment to the land subdivision regulation to allow subdivision plats to be approved even if it lacks city street access if they have some other dedicated public right of way.
The amendment, which was forwarded to the commission by the Jackson Board of Aldermen after they discussed undeveloped land north of Bent Creek Golf Course within the city limits but without immediate access to city street.
Building and Planning Manager Janet Sanders said the amendment would not require the city to approve such a subdivision, but without the amendment, no plat without city street access could even be submitted to the city for review.
Sanders said the amendment, written by City Attorney Tom Ludwig, was composed to narrowly address this specific issue, but it would be applicable if a similar situation occurred in the future within the city limits.
A public hearing was held on Nov. 13. Robert Litzelfelner spoke on behalf of the amendment, and attorney Megan Andrews voiced opposition to the amendment.
Andrews, who is representing several people with property close to the undeveloped land, said there would be liability issues for the city if it had to travel down a private road to provide trash services, law enforcement and fire protection.
Robert Litzelfelner, who owns 27.55 acres of the undeveloped property inside the city limits, argued for the amendment, saying the City would not have to approve the future plat if no right of way agreement with neighboring property owners was reached or if the City had other objections to the plans. He reiterated that the amendment just gave them the opportunity to try to find a solution.
The amendment passed by a 5-4 vote. Mike Seabaugh, Tony Koeller, Wade Bartels, Tina Weber and Beth Emmendorfer voted for the amendment and Janice Unger, Harry Dryer, Bill Fadler and Alex Austin voted against.
The amendment will now go back to the Board of Aldermen, who will schedule another public hearing.
The Planning and Zoning Board approved a plat for commercial development on Main Street next to the South-eastHEALTH Convenient Care in Jackson. Mike Haynes, who submitted the plat, plans to build a new Domino’s Pizza there to replace the location that had fire damage.
Haynes said he was in the process of selling the property to Domino’s. He added that it will be similar to newer Domino’s locations, where customers can sit down inside the store. Haynes said the new location will also allow Domino’s to have a larger drive through then its previous location. He said the current Domino’s building will be used as office space for the owner, who owns four other Domino’s locations.
