The Putnam County Planning Commission approved an eight-lot preliminary subdivision plat on Clemmons Road during Tuesday’s meeting.
The plat requested a variance as two of the lots were within 520 feet of a fire hydrant, which does not meet the 500 feet requirement. Planning Commission Chairman David Mattson said he preferred the commission to remain consistent when reviewing fire hydrant variances.
“Well, I think just my opinion to be consistent with what we’ve done generally, so we can maintain this consistency, so all developers know this requirement is there for a reason,” Mattson said. “I think there is a benefit to the county long-term to maintain that.”
Mattson said if someone’s house were on fire, they would appreciate a fire hydrant being within reach. The planning commission approved the preliminary plat, subject to the addition of a fire hydrant.
Board Member Patrick Rinks said he was also concerned about the consistency of granting fire hydrant variances.
“I know in the past we have approved some variances slightly over 500 (feet),” Rinks said. “Last month, one was turned down because of requiring an extra hydrant, although it had different circumstances.”
Surveyor Allen Maples said the lots could be reduced to seven depending on soil testing results. Putnam County Planning Director Kevin Rush said soil tests can change a lot regarding a plat.
“You know, soils are so site-specific that I always tell a developer present for a preliminary, the most you can get, and then knowing on the final, you are probably gonna lose some just because of how soils work,” Rush said. “I don’t have a problem granting preliminary approval, subject to the addition of a fire hydrant, that way the developer knows that it will be required.”
The commission asked Maples if he had put together a seven-lot plat. Maples said he has, but he has not measured the distance from the nearest fire hydrant.
In other business, the planning commission discussed an estimated 3.7-acre property off of Nashville Highway. Rush said the property is in the Baxter area, out towards Carthage. The property runs along the road but does not run far away from the road.
Rush said the property owner is renovating a building on the property. Rush said he believes the entire lot will be in the front setback.
“What my suggestion would be is to tell him to have his surveyor work with the property owner in the back to come up with a way to have a viable lot where there will be a building site not in the setbacks,” Rush said. “Whether that’s 100×100 addition to this lot, or 100×200, or you know, 50×50 or whatever.”
Rush said concerns are not with the current property owner but for future property owners. Rush said someone needs to rebuild a building because a car ran into the building, a site farther away from the road would be his recommendation.
The commission ultimately agreed to provide Rush’s recommendation to the property owner.
The commission approved a final plat for a five-lot subdivision on Verble Sherrell Road. The planning commission previously had issues with the flag lot. The developer ended up removing the flag lot from the final plat.
The commission then approved a final plat that would divide an estimated 6.41 acres at the intersection of Bob Lynn Road and West Bangham Road into five total lots. There is a six-inch watermain on Bob Lynn Road, but it is fed by a four-inch main on West Bangham Road. The developer is planning to have a fire suppression sprinkler system instead of a fire hydrant.
Rinks said a four-inch main could likely serve a fire hydrant, but it is not the best practice to do so.
