By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Ellis County Joint Planning Commission gave preliminary approval for the Whispering Gales Addition in rural Ellis County during a public hearing Wednesday.
The housing addition will be north of Interstate 70 at the Yocemento interchange.
Professional surveyor James Meis presented early plans for a 20-lot subdivision north of Interstate 70. Eighteen lots are intended for single-family residential homes.
The area will exclude mobile homes, storage buildings made from shipping containers and will allow a limited number of pets.
The homeowners will oversee the design of the lots through an architectural control committee, which will discuss any proposed changes.
"If somebody wants to make changes to their lot structures, they have to get it approved by everybody, so everyone is on the same page," Meis said.
Meis said one lot will serve as an area for stormwater retention and walking trails, while another, the largest lot, will remain flexible for potential future commercial development.
"For instance, maybe a gas station or something of that nature, but it's 10 acres, so you can't do a lot with that," he said.
Each subdivision, spanning three blocks and accessible through two entry points, ranges from 4.24 to 10.04 acres.
With no gas service in the area, residents will need to use propane tanks. Western Electric Cooperative will provide electrical services.
Karst Water Well Drilling & Service has drilled three water wells, each reaching a depth of 40 feet. Each lot will have its own septic tank system.
"Rural water is not an option," Meis said. "Everything is going to be a private water well."
New private roads will be constructed to county standards. A homeowners association will collect fees from landowners to fund road maintenance, Meis said.
Residents, landowners, guests, emergency services and government employees will have access to the private roads.
"There's not a lot of lots like this in Ellis County with its size and location," Meis said.
The planning commission approved the motion for the preliminary plat of Whispering Gales Addition. The early plans will be presented to the Ellis County Commission on Tuesday for consideration.
If accepted, a final plat application will be submitted, which the planning committee will meet to discuss. Meis said a final plat has already been prepared in anticipation of the preliminary approval.
The next Ellis County Joint Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for July 24.