By Rupert Howell

Land commissioners for Panola County needed to take no action concerning a development earlier proposed to supervisors that would put approximately 20 mobile homes on one acre lots on property near Henderson, Crouch and Holmes Roads east of Batesville for rental property.

Chad Tidwell had approached supervisors September 2 seeking assistance with ditching the road’s right-of-way that has a high bank on a portion of the 20-acre plot.

In other words Tidwell asked supervisors to bring the county road up to county specifications so that he could develop the property saving the county time and trouble of dealing with drainage problems and the possibility of working on private property after the fact.

“It would be to the county’s advantage to do the road,”  noted Regional Environmentalist Field Dew with the Health Department who works with the commission. 

Dew and the commission’s enforcement officer Chad Meek had worked with Tidwell prior to the meeting to find a way to develop the property without need of variances.

The solution included Tidwell developing no more than four lots per year without having to declare a minor neighborhood status which requires additional acreage. Commissioners have required that no more than four lots be developed per year per parcel in the past.

Dew noted that there were two parcels involved, one on each side of the road, and that it would take the developer three or four years to develop with the current understanding.

Since a variance request was not required, there was no official action by commissioners.

Commissioners also voted to send a recommendation to supervisors that would require all structures requesting electrical hookup, to receive a permit. The recommendation will go to Panola Supervisors who will announce the date of a public hearing concerning building codes and standards later this month.

Land commissioners meet every second Monday at 6 p.m., alternating between the Batesville and Sardis courthouses. Next month commissioners will meet in Sardis.