Supervisors table West Burlington three‑lot final plat after neighbor raises septic‑drain access concern

County planning staff described a three‑lot final plat north of West Burlington and said the subdivision met county minimum standards for lot size, access and utilities. During the presentation, staff noted the property had been auctioned in part and that Lot 3 has an access neck that meets county width requirements.

An adjoining landowner, Linda Schneider, told the board she only recently learned a portion of her former septic system lies across the property line into a wooded area on the proposed subdivision parcel. Schneider said the older components were installed decades ago, that mowing and maintenance have been informal, and that fencing by the new parcel owner could block seasonal access for cleaning or repairs. "We never gave it much thought until we found the property markers after we moved in and you could tell it was on someone else's property," Schneider said, adding that she had difficulty reaching contractors and attorneys to resolve the matter.

Planning staff said they had discussed the issue with environmental health and Greg Lemke and believed relocation or coordination was possible, but acknowledged there may have been a miscommunication about the drain's exact location. Several supervisors agreed that more information was needed. One supervisor said they would prefer to table the item to allow health department review and to get legal clarity or an easement solution.

The board voted to table the final plat to allow staff to coordinate with the health department, clarify drain location, and, if needed, obtain legal input to ensure continued access and maintenance rights.

Why it matters: Final plats change property boundaries and can affect existing onsite septic systems and maintenance access for adjoining owners. Tabling the plat allows the county to verify that public‑health protections and maintenance access will not be compromised before approving a subdivision.

Next steps: Planning staff will work with environmental health, the petitioner and affected neighbors to resolve the drain/location issue and report back to the board.