County could be ?trailblazers? in using corn rating for subdivisions

The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors tabled the second reading of the county?s subdivision ordinance during Monday?s meeting.

Because assistant county attorney Pat McAvan is still refining the language in one of the sections, he advised it would not be appropriate for the supervisors to take action without a draft in their hands.

?There?s no reason to be in a hurry on this thing,? he said.

Local attorney Tom Makeig, who was in attendance as a concerned citizen, also cautioned the board about language discouraging subdivisions on land with a corn suitability rating of 50 or higher. He said it will be prohibitive for landowners wanting to sell their property and developers seeking a prime location. Zoning would be a more appropriate method to manage development, he said.

CSR could be included as a factor for consideration, ?but if you go as far as making a rebuttal assumption, you are going to burden landowners,? Makeig said. ?I can predict it will breed litigation.?

McAvan said he was very careful with the language used in the ordinance, but Makeig did make a valid point.

?I think it?s something that you need to think about,? McAvan told the supervisors. ?We would be trailblazers so to speak, if it remains in there, and with blazing the trail comes risks and possibly rewards.?

Although no action was taken Monday, supervisor Lee Dimmitt said he would favor pursuing zoning with an eye toward agriculture. The second reading of the ordinance was rescheduled for March 30.

Also Monday, the supervisors voted against consulting a lawyer about the establishment of a tax increment financing district in Cypress Villages subdivision.

Supervisor Dick Reed said a straw poll taken earlier this month while the board met with developer Dan Walker indicated the board would not favor a TIF. And if the board is not interested in granting a TIF, Reed said he saw no point in consulting a lawyer.

?I?m not sure where you?re headed,? he said. With a petition for incorporation still before the state?s City Development Board, he feels the county should wait to get involved until that board has made a ruling.

Dimmitt agreed, saying the development has ?too many irons in the fire? and the board should wait until the petition for incorporation plays out.

For the complete article, see the Tuesday, March 17, 2009, Fairfield Ledger.