Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
In his latest report to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners, Planning Official David Wheeler provided updates on three major development projects in progress, as well as on housing activity.
In terms of the major projects, first is the request from Eshden Partners for a change in the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) of four parcels that comprise a total of 120-plus acres in the southwest quadrant of the I-10 and SR-59 interchange. The request is to change the designation of the four parcels from mixed-use business residential and agriculture-3 to mixed-use business interchange. Originally scheduled for a hearing before the Planning Commission on Dec. 19, the hearing was postponed at the last minute by request of the applicant. It is now set for a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12.
The second major development is an application for a 14-lot subdivision on an 83-acre parcel off Whitehouse Road that is designated as Agriculture-5, or one house per five acres. According to the application, the lot sizes will range from five to eight acres, with the developer to put in a paved road. Pursuant to the new rules recently implemented by the state, no public hearing or board approval is required on this application. Once the plat application and materials are deemed complete and compliant with state law by the planning official, the project must be approved. This application is still in process, according to the report.
The third is a proposed truck stop at the corner of U.S. 19 South and Nash Road, a project that was previously rejected by the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners. The developer has since submitted an amended plan that creates a smaller footprint, the aim being to avoid the earlier objections. As it now stands, the application package on this project remains incomplete, according to Wheeler’s report. A letter listing the application’s deficiencies has been sent to the developer, and additional information has been requested. The report notes that the planning department continues its effort to implement new software that will allow for the creation of cloud-based storage and organization of planning documents, as well as allowing for online applications, with the option to apply for permits online expected to be available by early this year.
The report finally gives a snapshot of building activity in the county in the eight-year period from 2018 to 2025. The figures show 103 new dwelling units in 2018, 96 in 2019, 113 in 2020, 152 in 2021, 128 in 2022, 110 in 2023, 116 in 2024, and 111 in 2025.
In terms of types of dwelling units, the figures break down as follows:
• 2018 – 64 single-family homes and 30 mobile homes;
• 2019 – 59 single-family homes and 37 mobile homes;
• 2020 – 74 single-family homes and 39 mobile homes;
• 2021 – 18 single-family homes and 34 mobile homes;
• 2022 – 85 single-family homes and 41 mobile homes;
• 2023 – 75 single-family homes and 35 mobile homes;
• 2024 – 70 single-family homes and 46 mobile homes; and
• 2025 – 57 single-family homes and 54 mobile homes.
IN THE FEATURED PHOTO: Planning Official David Wheeler
ECB Publishing, Inc. Photo by Laura Young