October 30 — Some revisions will soon come into effect for subdivision rules and regulations.

Parker County commissioners on Monday approved three of four recommendations from a subdivision regulatory committee charged with drainage assessments and road standards.

The first item, approved unanimously last week, was the requirement to carry out a downstream drainage assessment for new housing developments.

“That’s something the county doesn’t currently require … and the idea is if someone comes to develop 50 acres, there needs to be some sort of assessment on the impact of adding more land. “asphalt and roofs on people downstream,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Jacob Holt said. “If you turn a hay field into roads, that will probably adjust the flow of water.”

The second item, approved following some concerns from other commissioners, was the requirement that new private roads meet the county’s minimum standards for road construction.

“In Precinct 2, we’re having quite a few issues…on the post office side, a lot of issues related to schools and buses going on private roads,” Holt said. “If someone builds a road and they don’t put a proper foundation, no matter how they surmount it, then they’re not going to put in place those residents and the infrastructure that’s supposed to serve those residents, including including our MPs, school buses, etc. very well in the long term.”

Precinct 4 Commissioner Mike Hale said he struggled with the idea initially because he was committed to landowners’ rights.

Holt agreed, but noted there were examples of well restrictions, how close you can be to a gas well or pipeline, that were done for public safety purposes .

“With the rapid growth of our county, if we have roads built that do not meet our minimum standards, then at some point there will be a significant risk to public safety on the road…,” a- he declared. “That’s the part that weighs on my mind enough that I think it’s worth it.”

Approval was given to require an 8-inch compacted base, with a 22-foot-wide anti-gravel joint.

“However, there is no need to have a maintenance mechanism in place on these private roads, and therein lies the problem,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Larry Walden.

Commissioners passed a similar revision, requiring internal RV park roads to also meet the county’s minimum standards.

“When you have an RV park, you have heavy vehicles coming in and out, and those places tend to have a higher demand for county infrastructure…fire, EMS,” Holt said.

Parker County Planner Jamie Tierce also offered suggestions on updating plating fees, something that hadn’t been done since at least 2016.

She noted that when comparing Parker to similar entities, the fees were similar in some cases but lower in many cases.

The new fees imposed would be for road construction inspection, roadside inspections – including an additional final construction inspection cost – and plat change or cancellation fees.

The court took no action on the fee changes, opting to put the item back on the agenda at the commissioners’ next meeting.

The court also made note to schedule a future public hearing after several Oak Tree Ranch Estates property owners asked the county to take over their roads.

Holt said his subdivision, located off Farm-to-Market 920 between Peaster and Poolville, has gravel roads and is in an area with poor visibility. Due to current conditions, the school bus must stop at 920, Holt said.

If a majority of the subdivision’s residents agree to the county maintaining, those homeowners would bear the cost of improvements to that road, with a lien on the property until the cost is paid.

Hale said he had a similar situation with a subdivision off U.S. 377, where a bus would have to stop on the shoulder.

“TxDOT and HOA, we were able to get a turnout and (deceleration) lane, and we worked really well together to accommodate this neighborhood,” he said. “And without having to take these private roads.”

Holt said it was his understanding that was looked at and it was not a possibility.

Commissioners would not be required to take action after the public hearing. But if the process moves forward, significant legal work, including changing road designations and deed restrictions, would be necessary.

Following the executive session, commissioners approved continuing negotiations with the City of Weatherford to exchange county-owned property located off West Columbia Street for the former home of Jim Wright at 202 W .Oak St.