The Hill County Commissioners Court met in a regular session Tuesday, February 25, and continued work on updating the county’s subdivision regulations.
County Judge Justin Lewis told commissioners that a lot of work has gone into updating the regulations, which were last approved in 2019. Lewis said that the document still needs work, but it is getting better. “It’s not perfect and will never be perfect, but we need to upgrade the rules sooner rather than later,” the judge said.
As the county continues to experience rapid land development, some of the document’s goals are to protect county infrastructure, preserve the value of existing properties and keep new development from burdening county taxpayers.
“I’m a small regulations guy and always have been, but at the same time, we’re having some very unscrupulous things happen in this county,” the judge said. “Unfortunately, even with the high price of land now, you’ve got folks coming in with money and trying to make a quick buck, and it’s hurting the individuals who buy it.”
Lewis said that the county has faced these issues in the past and has been pretty good at stopping it. “We’re not here to hinder development,” said Lewis. “We’re here to ensure development is safe, it is something that is desired for our county, and it’s not something that’s substandard or a detriment to public health and safety.”
One of the changes is the addition of tiny home, recreational vehicle community and short-term rental community requirements. Lewis explained that it is impossible for a developer to place multiple small homes on an acre of land and comply with septic rules in the state. “The other thing is, if I have 100 acres and decide to build an 800-home tiny home community on your gravel road, that road is going to go to pot overnight and taxpayers pick up the cost,” said Lewis.
The proposed regulations prohibit more than 10 units per acre and require an engineering plan to ensure adequate roads, drainage and other infrastructure. Such developments would also be required to have service buildings available, such as laundry and restroom facilities.
Another proposed change to the regulations would transition the county from operating under Subchapter A of the Texas Administrative Code relating to subdivision rules to Subchapter C.
The change will help cities in the county be eligible for grant funds from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The City of Hillsboro is currently seeking $30 million from TWDB to update its aging water infrastructure. The main change under Subchapter C is that certain exemptions to the platting process would no longer be available.
Lewis said that Hill County remains one of the few counties that offers exceptions for minor plats for those in situations like dividing family land. “We’re not trying to catch everyone up in the rules,” the judge said.
Those keeping at least 25 percent of the original property and creating a lot of under 10 acres can go through the less expensive minor plat process for up to three divisions of property if there are no roads or drainage involved.
The proposed rules also include a $5,000 retainer for engineering fees so that road and drainage plans can be reviewed. Lewis said that taxpayers should not be paying for developers’ costs.
County Surveyor Jesse Ince presented some minor language changes that he believes need to be included in the document. County Attorney David Holmes also had suggestions relating to legal language. Lewis was expected to incorporate the changes and present the document to commissioners for a vote at their next meeting.
Commissioners set a public hearing to be held during the court’s Tuesday, April 8, meeting on a proposed speed limit and school zone on HCR 1240 near Whitney middle and high schools. The county and city have a plan to improve the road over the summer, and Precinct 1 Commissioner Jim Holcomb recommended extending a school zone from the city’s portion of the roadway to the county’s portion and setting a 35 mile-per-hour speed limit on the highly traveled road.
The court voted to allow Holcomb to publish notice that his precinct is accepting bids for the former county yard at 115 Avenue A in Blum. The property contains just over two acres of land, and the minimum bid is $77,000. Bids must be submitted to the Precinct 1 office at 5798 FM 933 in Whitney by 3 p.m., Friday, March 28.
Crime Victims Coordinator Katie Cole spoke to the court prior to commissioners authorizing her to apply for a state grant that funds her position, which the county is required to have under state law. Cole told commissioners that she attended a conference this year and left thankful for the good working relationships in Hill County. She said that crime victims coordinators in other counties are often left in the dark without a good working relationship with prosecutors, law enforcement and Child Protective Services. “I want to tell all of you how grateful I am to be here,” Cole said.
An in-budget expenditure under the county’s new spending policy — which requires departments to seek court approval for any expense over $5,000 — was approved for Hill County Emergency Management. The office needs to replace two Motorola radios lost during the previous sheriff’s office administration and add a third one to the office. The $5,419 will come out of the existing radio budget.
Commissioners convened in executive session for legal consultation. When open session resumed, the court authorized the county attorney to initiate litigation to recover damages incurred by Hill County taxpayers on HCR 3111.
The court was expected to meet in a special session Tuesday, March 4. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, March 11, at 8:30 a.m. in the Hill County courtroom of the courthouse in Hillsboro.
