Minimum lot size requirements and plats without proper signatures were the hot topics of discussion at last week’s Planning Commission workshop. A recent request for a variance by Ocoee Mountain Club developers to permit a development on Cookson Creek Road that included lots smaller than the minimum set in the regulations led to the discussion.

Planning Board Chairman Laura Crawford asked the board if they wanted to change the regulations to accommodate more developers. “Do we want to allow smaller lots when development is on a sewer system?” she asked.

Board member John Pippenger reiterated his original stance, saying there was no reason to give a variance for lot sizes and added that he had received several calls from people who would like to see the board set the minimum lot size at 1/2 acre. Vice-Chairman Steve Harbison said he wouldn’t mind the minimum size being a half acre, but noted that the current regulation is already less than half an acre, at 13,000 sq. ft. Pippenger said he would not mind if the regulation stayed where it currently was.

Ronnie Dillard, the newest planning board member, said he felt a development with just 7500 sq. ft. lots “would be something you would have inside a city limit, not on the side of a mountain.”

Board members also discussed the number of developers and surveyors bringing final plats to meetings without the required signatures on them. Signatures from the health department and environmentalist are required before a plat can be approved and recorded.

Crawford said there was no excuse for not having signatures on the plats, but added there were times when people had trouble getting with the environmentalist in time.  “If we start turning them down with no signatures, they will start showing up with everything that’s required,” Pippenger said.

All board members agreed that they needed to enforce the rule about signatures and would no longer permit plats to be approved pending final signatures. All signatures will be required before the plat will be voted on.

Other topics of discussion included the need for easement standards in the county. The planning commission will meet Tuesday night for their regular meeting. The Cookson Creek Development is not on the agenda.