REBIC – Union County Commissioners Propose Additional Regulatory Controls on Subdivisions

From REBIC - January 20, 2026

Copied from an editorial published by the Citizen Portal, we quote,

“Commissioners voiced particular concern about farmland loss and the cumulative effect of many small divisions. One commissioner said the agricultural advisory board considers eight lots “a little… high,” and several members signaled interest in studying a lower threshold. After discussion, a commissioner moved to direct staff to prepare a draft text amendment defining a major subdivision as four lots or more and to take the necessary steps for land-use-board review with the goal of a public hearing in February; the board voted to approve the motion.

”Staff emphasized exemptions that cannot be changed because they are statutory and noted that some process steps (for example TIA triggers or sunflower surveys tied to very large developments) are controlled by statute or external agencies.

”Next steps, per staff and the board: draft the ordinance text, send it to the land-use board for a recommendation (the land-use board meeting schedule provides a possible January review date) and file the required notices to schedule a February public hearing before the commissioners.”

Access the full agenda of the meeting.

Rob’s Take: We keep hearing from policymakers that farmland loss is an economic negative and the primary reason to stop growth. And yet in our experience, farmers are the ones advocating for fair use and sale of their property…and we don’t hear them dissenting. We only hear the County using it as another excuse to ignore the cries of work force employees, young people, and all potential homebuyers who are shut out of future homeownership because of lack of supply. Managing growth is prudent and results in better communities. Stopping growth hurts everyone including the taxpayers when their bills go up substantially in a few years because their leaders didn’t lead.