Monroe County commissioners approved a change to the county’s zoning ordinance Wednesday.
County residents who are planning to build a new house on undeveloped property will now be required -- at their own expense -- to submit a certified plot plan instead of a self-made, scaled drawing.
The county said certified plans were an important tool for owners during and after building.
“People can understand where the property lines are located and prevent them from building over lot lines, which is a lot more costly than doing an original, certified plot plan,” county planning department assistant director Jackie Nester Jelen said.
She said certified plans analyze existing geographic features that could cost owners more money in future repairs. The plans also could help owners sell their homes.
“When you go to sell your property, it’s helpful,” Nester Jelen said. “People often look for some sort of survey to say, ‘Where can I build additional structures? Can I build a pool?’”
Between Feb. 24 and Sept. 16, 2021, the county issued 95 resident permits. About 54 percent of the applicants already submitted certified plot plans, with another 40 percent only submitting a scaled drawing. The remaining six percent submitted scaled drawings but were then asked for a certified plan.
How does this affect affordable housing?
Randy Cassady spoke during public comment about how additional costs impact the affordability of housing in the county. He said the county should work to keep its citizens living here, rather than commuting.
“That’s where you get your heart,” Cassady said. “It’s those that live here.”
Nester Jelen said certified plans are not a small cost, but it’s a small percentage of what it costs to build a new house. She reached out to three local companies about potential costs and timelines for certified plans. Considering every property is unique, all three companies remained anonymous to prevent locking in estimates.
One company said it would take between four and six weeks, another estimated between three and four weeks, and another said it would take two weeks, according to Nester Jelen.
Only two of the companies provided cost estimates, which differ if properties are platted.
In a platted subdivision, owners are looking at paying between $450 to $1,200 for a certified plan. By comparison, unplatted property will cost between $1,200 to $2,500 for one company and between $4,000 and $6,000 for another.
To prevent excessive fees for property owners with only one house on a large amount of land, owners with more than 2.5 acres can use a deed of record to illustrate property lines.
Commissioner Julie Thomas said she understood concerns about increasing the cost of affordable housing. But she sees certified plans as good investments.
“Housing becomes unaffordable when there are issues with flooding and other concerns that aren’t addressed appropriately,” she said. “I think that can make an affordable house very unaffordable.”
Commissioners approved the change by a 2-0 vote. Commissioner Lee Jones was absent.
